Do you know what is common between Calvin Coolridge, Theodore Roosevelt, Benjamin Harrison and Woodrow Wilson? Of course, they were all American presidents, but then there is something more common among them. It is the famous ‘Lincoln Bed‘. All these presidents have actually slept on the bed. The irony of the matter is Abraham Lincoln never slept on it!
Lincoln Bedroom
The majestic six-foot wide and eight-foot long rosewood bed still finds a pride of place in the White House. The bed was originally purchased by the then first lady Mary Todd Lincoln in the 1860s. She bought as part of the White House refurbishing drive. The bed has a tragic story behind it. Willie, the son of Abraham Lincoln passed away of typhoid on the bed in 1862. Perhaps this was the reason why Abraham Lincoln avoided the bed. Some other White House sources state that maybe it was because of the President’s towering personality, he stood at 6’4″, which meant that he needed a larger bed to accommodate his enormous wingspan.
The bed was initially placed in the famous ‘Lincoln Bedroom‘, which was actually Lincoln’s office. The legendary bed has been moved across to different rooms in the executive mansion several times. In fact, it has also been thrown into the storage too for good at one point in time. But it has always made a successful comeback.
Interesting History
Teddy Roosevelt during his tenure reconverted Abraham Lincoln’s office to a bedroom years later. The bedroom is also known popularly as the ‘Blue Bedroom’. The room was among the many that were gutted during the fire to the mansion during the tenure of President Truman. After it was rebuilt, it was dedicated to the former president and continued to be one of the most famous pieces of furniture in the world.
The Lincoln Bedroom was refurbished again in 2002 on the interest of First Lady Laura Bush. Since the Lincoln bicentennial was fast approaching, the White House Historical Association decided to finance the historical project. The bed continues to be the center of attraction in the room with its vast headboard and carvings.
Replicas in Demand
Want to bring a bit of White House history into your home? Replicas of the iconic Lincoln bed are readily available in the market. In fact, a simple online search is all that you need to make in order to find stores selling these replicas. You can get the size customized to fit in your bedroom. The color and upholstery are also customizable. You can also find online stores selling miniature versions of the bed, which make for a wonderful gift idea.
