Lincoln's White house and the Ship of Theseus

[LincolnToddFan]

Juan, another BRILLIANT post from you!!

I have also thought the same thing about the White House and other famous places and artifacts. If a sofa has been reupholstered and changed so many times is it the original sofa anymore? How about the famous Lincoln Bed that MTL originally ordered from Philadelphia? Surely it doesn't have the original mattress, etc. The only thing that is probably authentic now is the elaborate Victorian headboard.

Which brings me to the White House itself. I agree with you 100% that the complete(but necessary) gutting of the interior of the Mansion in the Truman era means it is no longer the house he occupied.. but simply the space.

It's sobering and sad to realize, but it's true!