09/02/2026
A table. A battleship. A moment that changed the world.
On September 2, 1945, representatives of Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, formally bringing World War II to an end.
And here's the part we really love:
They signed it on a Steelcase table.
The table wasn't even supposed to be there.
The USS Missouri had prepared an elegant mahogany table for the ceremony. But when the surrender documents arrived, officials realized the table wasn't large enough to hold them. At the last minute, Navy crew members went looking for another table—and pulled one from the ship's crew mess.
That ordinary, durable metal table was made by the Metal Office Furniture Company, the Grand Rapids company that would later become Steelcase. During World War II, the company was supplying the U.S. Navy with lightweight, durable steel furniture.
At 9:04 a.m. on September 2, 1945, the Japanese delegation signed the surrender documents. General Douglas MacArthur and representatives of the Allied nations then signed on behalf of the victorious Allies.
A simple table had suddenly become part of world history.
And nearly 80 years later, that table is still on display at the U.S. Naval Academy Museum.
As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we're taking a look at the people, places, products, and moments that have shaped our country.
For us, this one is especially meaningful.
Because we believe furniture does more than fill a room. Sometimes, it becomes part of history. We're part of a long tradition of workplace furniture that has been built to last and has literally been present at moments that shaped the American story.
To read more about this story: https://bit.ly/45xurVG
