Blockbuster link to Portsmouth Museum
News release issued: 5th February 2008
What links a Portsmouth museum, the Royal Navy and a new Hollywood action adventure film with both Queen Victoria and the President of the United States of America?
Well, the answer is HMS Resolute. In 1854, the Resolute had to be abandoned when she became stuck in Arctic ice, but she was subsequently rescued by the Americans. When the ship came out of service and was broken up in 1879, Queen Victoria ordered an ornate desk to be fashioned from the ship’s timbers and, as a gesture of thanks, presented this to President of the United States, Rutherford B Hayes, in 1879. The desk has sat in the Oval Office in the White House ever since – and it plays a key role in the forthcoming film National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which stars Nicholas Cage and opens in the UK on Friday 8th February.
Also featured in the film is a second piece of furniture made of Resolute timber – a writing table which Queen Victoria used herself on the Royal Yacht. And this table will be going on display in the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
'The plot of National Treasure sees Nicolas Cage discover vital clues in both the desk and the writing table’, says Richard Noyce, Curator of Artefacts at the Museum. 'In fact, although it is shown as being in Buckingham Palace, the table has been on long-term loan to us from the Royal Collection and we will be putting it on display through February and March’.
‘The whole Resolute story is absolutely fascinating,’ continues Richard. ‘Ironically she was in the Arctic searching for survivors from Sir John Franklin’s last ill-fated attempt to find the North-West passage when she herself became stuck in the ice and had to be abandoned. She was found two years later having drifted some 1,200 miles – reports tell of how eerie it was to find her almost exactly as she had been the day she was abandoned – but with no men on board. And George W Bush sits at the Resolute desk as has virtually every President since 1879 – in fact he mentions the desk on a tour of the oval office that you can watch on the internet (www.thewhitehouse.gov).’
The Museum is running a special children’s trail that ties in with the film during February half-term with prizes donated by Disney. It is also hosting a talk and book signing by Elizabeth Matthews, who has written a novel based on the Resolute story. This will be held on Saturday 23rd February at 11.00am, when Elizabeth also promises to sing some sea shanties. Please ring 023 9272 7582 for more information.
Notes for Editors
1. Stills and footage from National Treasure: Book of Secrets are available by contacting Kirsty Saltmarsh at Disney on 020 8222 1602 or e-mail: Kirsty.Saltmarsh@disney.com
2. Images of HMS Resolute and the writing table can be obtained from Julian Thomas at the Royal Naval Museum on 023 9272 7567 0r e-mail: julian.thomas@royalnavalmuseum.org
