Theodore Roosevelt Island

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior George Washington A Memorial to a ... Above:A view of Washington,DC and TheodoreRooseveltIsland takenfrom above the George WashingtonMemorial Parkway in 1972by Mary E. Curry Right:PresidentRoosevelt(left)with famous naturalistJohn Muir at YosemiteNational Park in 1903 Parkway This wooded island is a tribute to the vision of our 26th President. His passion for the earth's natural places and foresight in planning for their preservation contributed to the conservation legacy we treasure today. Born on October 27, 1858, in New York City, Roosevelt overcame health challenges of asthma and poor eyesight, and focused his attention on the outdoor world. He enjoyed collecting live animal s and hunting "specimens" to study. As a youngste r, he established his own natural history museum with items gathered from his neighborhood and family travels. By the time of his presidency, he was a well-known naturalist and outdoorsman. This background prepared him for many of the challenges of his administration. As President, Roosevelt rose to a conservation crisis. Bison, beaver, and shore birds were fast disappearing, while other species had become extinct. Approximately four-fifths of the nation's prime forests had been cut to make way for farms and provide building materials and fuel. Years of continuous farming had compromised soil fertility. His leadership changed the public's perception that America's natural resources were inexhaustible. Under Roosevelt's leadership, the Federal Government expanded its role in conserving our nation's resources: law in 1906. This law has been used to protect magnificent cliff dwellings, ruins and missions discovered on public lands in the southwestern United States. __._..'-'-Roosevck.signed.the-Antiquities.Acttlnto Statue of TheodoreRoosevelt, TheodoreRooseveltIsland, Washington,DC c.1967 Memorial In the world of conservation, there are numerous tributes to Roosevelt. A subspecies of elk, which was discovered in Olympic National Park, was renamed Cervus roosevelti. In Brazil, his explorations of the River of Doubt led to its renaming as "Rio Roosevelt," as a tribute to his role in expanding knowledge of wetlands and rainforests. These accolades seem fitting for a President who was once late for a Cabinet meeting because he was watching birds. Roosevelt's love of animals led to the creation of one of his most famous namesakes. Once, while on a hunting trip, his aides tied up an old bear for him to kjll. His refusalto sh._Q9 t the defen~less animal prompted a newspaper to draw a cartoon. The cartoon, published nationwide, inspired the creation of the "Teddy Bear," one of America's most beloved toys. • Roosevelt provided public protection for nearly 230 million acres of land in the United States during his tenure in office. He created 18 national monuments 5 national parks, 150 national forests, 51 Federal bird reservations, and 4 national game reserves. The monuments included Devils Tower, Lassen Volcanic, Muir Woods, and the Grand Canyon (before it became a national park). Additional Roosevelt Presidential legacies include: • He established the United States Forest Service, a Federal land management agency. • Coined the term "White House" • Support for women's and civil rights • Driving force behind construction of the Panama Canal • Negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War • First American to win the Nobel Peace Prize TheodoreRooseveltMemorial, c. 1967 The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association (TRMA) purchased this island, as well as adjacent Little Island (for a total of 88.5 acres), in 1932. Later the same year, TRMA deeded the land to the Federal Government as a gift in memory of our 26 th President to be maintained "as a natural park for the recreation and enjoyment of the public." TRMA retained responsibility for development of the memorial and hired Olmsted Brothers, a landscape architecture firm. Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and the Civilian Conservation Corps created what has become the mature woodland sanctuary you see today. Years later, Architect Eric Gugler designed the memorial and Sculptor Paul Manship created the central statue. A dedication ceremony took place in October 1967. The island has a diverse history. Evidence shows that Native Americans used the island as a seasonal fishing village. The site was named "My Lord's Island" when King Charles I granted it to Lord Baltimore. One owner, a sea captain, called it "Barbadoes" after his childhood home. In the 1790s,John Mason, son of George Mason IV (author of the Virginia Bill of Rights), built a brick mansion and cultivated gardens on the island. For years afterward, the island was a picnic resort. During the Civil War, the site served as a training area for the Union Army, including the "First 1:J.S.Color~d Troops:' Today, the National Park Service protects the island, while providing for public enjoyment. While you are here, savor the sounds of the outdoors as you travel through marsh, swamp and forest. Or, ponder the quotes on the granite tablets in Memorial Plaza. Keep pets leashed. • Respect wildlife by not harassing animals. • Beware of poison ivy, stinging nettles, and ticks. • Dispose of litter in trash cans. For more information contact: George Washington Memorial Parkway c/o Turkey Run Park, Virginia District Ranger McLean, VA 22101 703-289-2500 www.nps.gov/gwmp ············· Dirt Trails --O ~ O Boardwalk - - 200 400 100 600 200 (j Parking Lot IJ Drinking Fountains &BlRestrooms 800 1000 Feet ............ 300 Meters 08/04 EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA