Fillmore’s Tub

On December 20, 1917, H. L. Mencken wrote an article explaining that the bathtub had been brought to the US on the same day in 1842. He claimed that only after being installed in President Fillmore’s White House did it begin to catch on in the US. He went on to further explain that the anniversary had been forgotten. Although it was meant in good fun, soon even universities were publishing his story. It was too late, he couldn’t take it back. To this day people cite December 20, 1842 as the birthday of the American bathtub.