THEODORE
ROOSEVELT

AND THE

MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL

HISTORY

| twelve mice, a turtle,
| squirrel, and four bird eggs by TR, then a

THEODORE ROOSEVELT WAS
connected with the American Museum of
Natural History from his boyhood. The
Museum’s original charter was approved on
April 8, 1869, in the parlor of the Roosevelt
home in Manhattan, when the future
president was 10 years old. Young TR was
passionately devoted to the study of natural
history, and his father once explained that he
had worked to establish the Museum for
those like his son who were interested in
science. The 1871 accession records of the
new museum list the donation of one bat,

the skull of a red

teenager active in taxidermy and collecting.

] Many other Roosevelt specimens would find

their way to the Museum in the next 50 years.

Throughout his life, TR continued to pursue
his interest in natural history in addition to
activities in politics and other fields. His 1914
expedition to the Brazilian jungles brought

= some 2,500 birds, 500 mammals, and many

fish, reptiles, insects, and amphibians back to the Museum. The majority of these animals were
from areas previously unvisited by naturalists, and many species were entirely new to science.
The expedition also permanently ruined TR’s health, but, as he explained to a friend, “I had just

|”

one more chance to be a boy, and | took it!

Gable, John A. 1982. “Theodore Roosevelt and the American Museum of Natural History.” Theodore Roosevelt
Association Journal, Vol. 8 (3).

THEODORE ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL HALL

HE

TR died in 1919, and in 1924 the New York
state legislature decided to honor him with a
memorial at his beloved American Museum
of Natural History. Construction of the
building began in 1929, and the Theodore
Roosevelt Memorial Hall was dedicated on
January 19, 1936 by TR's fifth cousin,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

On the parapet wall around the terrace and
steps are carved inscriptions representing
facets of TR’s many-sided career: “Ranchman,
Scholar, Explorer, Scientist, Conservationist,
Naturalist, Statesman, Author, Historian,
Humanitarian, Soldier, Patriot.” In front of the
building is a bronze equestrian statue of TR
by James Earle Fraser.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT ROTUNDA

i

The walls of the great vaulted interior of the
Hall are decorated with carved quotations
from TR on the subjects of nature, manhood,
youth, and the state, and by three colorful
murals, rich in historical and symbolic
imagery, that celebrate some of the
accomplishments of his career.

The West Mural is dedicated to TR’s African
expedition. He can be seen in the upper left of
the central panel. His son Kermit is seen at the
lower right of the central panel. TR donated
two of the elephants in the world-famous
display in the Akeley Hall of African
Mammals, just off the Rotunda—the cow just

to the right as you enter the hall, and her calf,
donated by TR’s son, Kermit.

The South Mural is dedicated to the Treaty of
Portsmouth, signed in 1905, which ended the
Russo-Japanese War. TR served as the
mediator between Russia and Japan, for
which he became the first American to win the
Nobel Peace Prize.

The North Mural is dedicated to the Panama
Canal, one of the most important
achievements of TR’s Presidency. TR can be
seen at the right in the central panel looking at
the plans for the great canal.

100153345

ROOSEVELT DIORAMAS AND DISPLAYS
ON THE FIRST FLOOR

i

Underneath the great vaulted hall, on the first
floor, are four striking dioramas and displays
devoted to TR’s life that include some of the
specimens he collected around the world, and

show:

New York City, then New Amsterdam, as it
was when the Roosevelts immigrated from
the Netherlands in the 17th century.

TR’s Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota where
he was a cattleman in the 1880's.

re
A scene of one of the New York State forest

preserves TR set aside when he was
Governor of New York.

3K
The Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary in Oyster
Bay, Long Island, the oldest Audubon bird
sanctuary in the nation, which forms a

protective belt around the Young Memorial
Cemetery where TR is buried.

AMERICAN MUSEUM 6

Also on the first floor are four glass display
cases that provide a more personal view of
TR’s life. Each is devoted to different aspects
of his character and accomplishments:
Lifelong public servant
Avid traveler and internationalist
Devoted family man and writer
Committed conservationist
Candid photos and memorabilia, such as his
signature eyeglasses, favorite books, and
excerpts from his diaries, accompany the
displays.

LIBRARY
OF THE
AMERICAN MUSEUM
OF NATURAL HISTORY

NATURAL HISTORY 1

OPEN DAILY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET WWW.AMNH.ORG 212-769-5100