The Rocking Chair: An American Icon
““What true American does not enjoy a rocking-chair? ””
The Rocking Chair: An American Icon
Americans have always been bold. We’re explorers, builders, rebels, and artists. It takes grit—real grit—to stare down the unknown and say, “Bring it on.” Our history is full of people willing to battle the odds for a better tomorrow. We leave the doubters in the dust and rise from the ashes, again and again.
That spirit—courageous, curious, relentless—is etched into our DNA. It’s what drives us to experiment and push boundaries. As I tell my students, “When you run your own experiments in the shop, you develop a deep, intuitive understanding you can’t get from books alone.” And it’s that kind of fearless tinkering that gave birth to one of the greatest chairs ever made: the American rocking chair.
Rock-a-Bye Baby on the Tree Top
Few inventions tap into our instincts like the rocking chair. The gentle back-and-forth movement creates calm and comfort on a primal level. No one teaches a mother to rock her baby—it’s instinctive, timeless. The rocking chair simply gives that motion a home. And even when not in motion, it offers something rare: a sense of balance and stillness that feels… right.
Rocking Chair Therapy: A Natural Healer
Since its early days, doctors have prescribed rocking chairs for all kinds of ailments—from back pain to arthritis, ADHD, and anxiety. The healing benefits of rocking are so well-documented, it has its own name: rocking chair therapy. (Here’s a great resource if you’re curious.)
The University of Rochester found that patients with severe dementia who regularly used rocking chairs experienced mood improvements, reduced anxiety, and even lowered their need for medication. The motion of rocking releases endorphins—your body’s natural painkillers.
Physiotherapist Brad Beer explains it best: “Rocking stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system—the body’s sedative side. It’s great for pain relief and calming stress. Just like an upset child or someone with autism instinctively rocks to self-soothe, the motion helps regulate the body and mind.”
The Lincoln Assassination Chair in Michigan
Who Really Invented the Rocking Chair?
Contrary to popular belief, Benjamin Franklin didn’t invent the rocking chair—though he might’ve improved it. Early versions appeared in North America in the early 1700s, when Franklin was still a child. I’ve seen some early experimental models, including one with heavy-duty springs under the back legs. Early American ingenuity at work.
Presidents Who Rocked
Plenty of U.S. presidents had a soft spot for a good rocker. John F. Kennedy famously used one to ease his chronic back pain. His love for the Kennedy Rocker led him to buy several—one for the White House, one for Camp David, and others for personal retreats. He even gifted them to friends and family.
Jimmy Carter had an Appalachian-style ladder-back rocker he adored. And Abraham Lincoln? He was seated in a rocking chair when he was assassinated—a somber but powerful detail in American history.
Teddy Roosevelt: The Rocking Chair Rough Rider
I’ve got to give Teddy Roosevelt his own section. The man was pure grit. He had a pit bull, rocked a mustache like a boss, wrestled for fun, and once gave a speech after being shot because his message mattered more than his life. Now that’s a legend.
Teddy loved his rocking chair. He only sat in regular chairs out of formality. Even in rest, he needed motion. His Windsor rocker—black and red, as bold as the man himself—was once stolen from the White House. Honestly? I get it. I’d be tempted too. Bully to you, chair thief. Bully to you.
Sam Maloof: The Rocking Chair Rock Star
No talk of rockers is complete without Sam Maloof. From Alta Loma, California, Maloof took the American rocker to new heights. He reimagined it—flowing lines, ergonomic design, seamless joints. His chairs are sculptures you can sit in. Though my own work leans more traditional, Maloof’s innovation is a constant inspiration.
The Windsor Rocking Chair
Some historians believe the earliest rockers were simply Windsor chairs with shortened legs and rockers tacked on. As the two traditions evolved side-by-side in the 18th century, they eventually fused into purpose-built Windsor rocking chairs—a kind of American super-chair.
More Than a Chair
The rocking chair isn’t just a piece of furniture—it’s a cultural icon. It transcends styles and trends. It stands on its own. And it’s here to stay.
In my experience as a chairmaker, people are drawn to rockers like bees to blossoms. There’s something magnetic about them. They whisper, “Come in. Take a load off. The lemonade’s cold and the grill’s fired up.” Who can say no to that?
Resources
Luke Barnett is a woodworker that specializes in traditional American Windsor chairs. Luke has sold Windsor chairs since 2011 and has been a full-time chairmaker since December 2013. Barnett won “Top craftsman in North America” from the Directory of Traditional American Crafts and Early American Life Magazine in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He won “Best project” in the seating category through Popular Woodworking Magazine in 2016 and 2017. Barnett also had one of his handmade Birdcage Rocking Chairs selected to be a part of a traveling Smithsonian Exhibit in 2016. Mr. Barnett is a member of the Adrian Noon Rotary Club and was awarded “Rotarian of the Year 2020” and “Outstanding Honors 2018-2019” for his devotion to the Woodworking for Warriors Program. He was also selected to be a guest speaker at the International Woodworking Fair in 2018 and 2020. Barnett spoke at the 2018 International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta, Georgia. His speech titled “Be the Spark” focused on engaging students at younger ages through community outreach.
Barnett is also an Accredited Skills Evaluator (ASE) through the Woodworking Career Alliance of North America. Currently, Barnett is a Finalist for “Top Young Woodworking Professional in the World” through The Woodworking Network for 2021 and was recently awarded a honoree of the Woodworking Network “40 Under 40 Awards" Class of 2020.