Woodrow Wilson House – Woodrow Wilson bedroom 04 – 2011-12-04

Image by Tim Evanson
Looking south-southwest at Woodrow Wilson’s bedroom at Woodrow Wilson House. Edith Wilson was terribly worried about her husband’s mental health as he left the White House. Wilson had always been a deeply self-critical man, but the stroke had left him even more so — as well as prone to debilitating depression, emotional instability, and more.

Wilson had recuperated in the Lincoln bed at the White House, and had grown fond of the room. So Edith Wilson worked hard to recreate that bedroom — right down to the last detail — at their new home on S Street NW. Seen here is the replica of the Lincoln bed which she had made for her husband. The writing board lying on the bed was used by Wilson when he felt unable to get out of bed.

Barely visible on the nighttable to the left of the bed is Wilson’s favorite electric alarm clock. The door leads out to the third floor balcony. Just behind the rocking chair is Wilson’s shaving kit (until the very end, he refused to let anyone shave him). On the day-bed below the window is the dining tray on which Wilson was usually served breakfast each morning.

In the southeast corner of the room is the desk Woodrow Wilson used as a student. It remained his personally favorite desk for his entire life, and he used it daily (even as president).

Woodrow Wilson House is located at 2340 S Street NW in Washington, D.C . After Wilson’s second term as president ended on March 4, 1921, he moved into this house with his wife and two servants. Crippled by the 1919 stroke that ended his presidency, Wilson died in the house on February 3, 1924.

The house was built in 1915 by Henry Parker Fairbanks, a Boston businessman and carpet industry lobbyist, and designed by celebrated architect Waddy Wood.