The “Resolute desk” was made by out of oak timbers from the British ship H.M.S Resolute and gifted to President Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880.

The Resolute was part of an expedition searching for Sir John Franklin in 1852. It was abandoned in the Artic. In 1855, it was found and extricated by Captain Buddington of the US Whaler “George Henry”.

It was gifted to Queen Victoria by the US President. When the ship was broken up and turned into a table, Queen Victoria gifted it to President Hayes.