Easily the most interesting thing about the desk to most people is the fact that there are hidden compartments in it. In the movie National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets the Resolute desk has a very important role in the plot when the desk contains in typical National Treasure fashion much needed information. It will likely be many more years until any other secret desks before more well known than the Resolute.

In 1906 the desk that had been passed down generation after generation was damaged by a child and when it was taken to be repaired the secret compartment was found. Inside was priceless documents still intact. Argueably the most important documents inside that desk were letters between James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson, which was very rare because Thomas Jefferson burned most of his letters while he was president. It is still very possible that many antique desks out there still hold their long lasting secrets of secret compartments, some collectors only have discovered them after years upon years of owning them.

In more modern times such as during the Holocaust more and more people started to own furniture again with places that let them hide their valueables within. Near everything can be crafted or altered to allow for this. Now it’s fairly common to find higher end furniture with false drawers to help conceal valuables such as jewelry. This has also became somewhat of a problem with people using these hiding spots to hide their contraband and drugs from police. It’s not rare for US customs to find vehicles holding vast amounts of contraband within such compartments.

All in all the American way of trying to keep your wealth and valuables to yourself and out of harms way will always live on. Maybe someday you’ll be lucky enough to tap a random spot on an old desk to hear a click and an old parchment fall into your lap.