Have you ever wondered...
Did President Abraham Lincoln actually sleep in the Lincoln bedroom?
President Abraham Lincoln did not sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom. During his presidency, Lincoln used that room on the Second Floor, now known as the Lincoln Bedroom, as his office and Cabinet Room. After the Harry S. Truman Renovation (1948-1952), the room was furnished in the Victorian style with several Lincoln-era pieces of furniture, including a rosewood bed purchased by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln for placement in a White House guest room. Because of the bed’s large dimensions, many have assumed that President Lincoln used it but there is no documented evidence that he did.
In 2002, First Lady Laura Bush initiated a refurbishment of the Lincoln Bedroom. Supported by the White House Historical Association and with the advice of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, the first lady oversaw the project, during which curators and other specialists used period documents, photographs, and descriptions of the Lincoln-era White House furnishings, wallpaper, and carpeting to recreate a more accurate 1860s décor. The project was completed by November 2005.

This 2005 color photograph showcases the Lincoln Bedroom, located on the Second Floor of the White House. Previously used as an office and Cabinet Room, the room became a bedroom in the family quarters during the 1902 Roosevelt renovation. The high-back bed, known as the Lincoln Bed, was purchased for the White House by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Despite its purchase during the Lincoln administration, the bed was probably never used by President Abraham Lincoln. Furnished during the administration of President Harry S. Truman, the room features furniture, artwork, and refurbishing reminiscent of the 1860s. In 2005, the room underwent refurbishing under the direction of First Lady Laura Bush enhancing the historical accuracy of the Lincoln Bedroom.
White House Historical AssociationFeatured Questions
We've Also Been Asked...
-
Has every president worked in the Oval Office?
-
How did the White House get its name?
-
What is the Resolute Desk?
-
Who saved the Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington from the White House before it was burned in 1814?
-
Has the White House ever been renovated or changed?
You Might Also Like
-
-
Video Stewart on CBS on Rosalynn Carter
-
Event History Happy Hour: Hanukkah and Holiday Traditions at the White House
Join us on the first night of Hanukkah, with a look back at celebrations of this holiday of miracles and...
-
Press NEW Episode: The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast “Remembering President John F. Kennedy: A 60th Anniversary Special”
The White House Historical Association released a new episode of The White House 1600 Sessions podcast today, “Remembering President John F. Ke...
-
Press “The White House and the Sea” NEW ISSUE of White House History Quarterly
The White House Historical Association today released the 71st issue of its award-winning magazine, White House History Quarterly, “The White Ho...
-
Press First Lady Rosalynn Carter Remembered
The White House Historical Association joins the nation in its remembrance of First Lady Rosalynn Carter and the grace, compassion,...
-
Gallery Remembering First Lady Rosalynn Carter
The White House Historical Association joins the nation in remembrance of First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Mrs. Carter maintained an active...
-
Press CBS News’ Margaret Brennan To Moderate “White House History” Conversation Series in 2024
The White House Historical Association has announced that its popular quarterly series “White House History” will be moderated in 2024 by Marg...
-
Video Behind the Scenes with David Hume Kennerly
This program features Pulitzer Prize-winner David Hume Kennerly, who was President Gerald R. Ford’s chief photographer. Kennerly details his ex...
-
Video President Garfield, From Radical to Unifier
Bestselling author and historian C.W. Goodyear discusses his new biography of President James A. Garfield. This work offers fresh...
-
Event White House History with Margaret Brennan: Diplomacy Then and Now
The White House Historical Association's 2024 quarterly series White House History with Margaret Brennan will feature four conversations dealing with various...
-
Event White House History with Margaret Brennan: The President Abroad
The White House Historical Association's 2024 quarterly series White House History with Margaret Brennan will feature four conversations dealing with various...