Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Museum: 3D Gallery

Teddy's Childhood Journal

The best way to honor such a memorable man as Teddy Roosevelt was to construct a museum since Mr. Roosevelt was very fond of them. As a child, Teddy made his own "Roosevelt Museum of Natural History" which was a collection of a dead seal's skull, unusual rocks, leaves, feathers, bird wings, insects and snake skins.

Teddy Roosevelt takes on the West

After the loss of his mother and beloved wife on the same day, Theodore Roosevelt needed to clear his mind of all the grief he was stricken with. Theodore moved out west of Dakota territory and rounded up cattle, roped and branded young calves, and bronco-busting. Just like the rest of the cowboys, Teddy Roosevelt's outfit was influenced by Mexican traditions introduced during the Gilded Age. He even wrote about the outfit in a letter to his sister telling her "you would be amused to see me in my broad sombrero hat, fringed and beaded buckskin shirt and cowboy boots with braided bridle and silver spurs" (Lindop 43).

First Step to Bettering the Lives of the People

Roosevelt became president of the New York City Police Board in 1895. Roosevelt decided to use his position of power to better the city by working with Jacob Riis, a photographer, to expose the disastrous crimes and living styles in the depth of poverty-stricken New York City. He also worked strenuously to end corruption and laziness in the police force; he did this by drawing attention to himself while doing activities the streets at night in a black cloak and wide brimmed hat. This is the beginning of his well known busting.

The New Governor of New York

Once Theodore took the role as governor of New York in 1899, he spent no time hesitating to make changes. Roosevelt dived right in by persuading the state legislature to make laws to improve working conditions in factories, limit the number of hours that women and children could work, and regulate the utility companies that provided the people with water and electric power. He also signed into law a bill that forced corporations to pay taxes on the profits they made. This was widely controversial but kicked off the start of breaking down large companies powers.

After President McKinely was assassinated on September 14th, 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th and the youngest president of the United States. Although McKinely was a hard act to follow considering he was loved by all of the population, Teddy quickly took on that role of becoming beloved by all the people because he only took interest in what was best for the people. Through the Sherman Antitrust Act, President Roosevelt was able to declare the Northern Securities Company in violation of it and have The Supreme Court rule that this trust was illegal. After this, Roosevelt took legal action against the beef, oil, tobacco and any other trust that prevented competition from smaller companies; hence how he acquired the nickname, "trust buster." These policies intended to encourage equal opportunities and fair play among Americans in the work field were called the Square Deal.

The Vigorous Active President

During the Coal Strike of 1902, Coal miners refused to work because the lack of wages and soon enough hospitals and schools were forced to close due to the lack of fuel. Determined to get the mines operating before winter, Theodore formed an arbitration committee that threatened to use troops to operate the mines if the mine owners didn't compromise with the workers. Fearful of Theodore keeping his promise, mine owners gave the miners a 10 percent wage increase and a shorter working day. Theodore's breaking down of large companies' cruel treatment to the poor workers made him the voice poverty stricken people never had.

Pure Food and Drug Act

After gaining more votes than any previous presidential candidate in his second term, Roosevelt jumped right back into reforming. In 1906, Theodore prompted Congress to adopt the Pure Food and Drug Act. This provided important regulations in the processing and labeling of foods and medicines.

Conservationist President

President Roosevelt was the first and one of the only presidents who truly cared for the wildlife. Roosevelt withdrew 125 million acres of timberland to set aside for national forests; he doubled the number of national parks and persuaded congress to permit funds from the sale of government-owned western lands to be used for the construction of large dams. This increased employment and brought water to the dry regions of the West.

Conservationist President

The Memory Lives On

Theodore Roosevelt died on January 6th, 1919. Though he may not be with is physically, he is still here in spirit. The trust buster, conservationist president fought for the better of the people and wasn't easily corrupted by power or money. He made sure corrupted companies met the demands of their well deserving workers, preserved the environment while everyone else was busy polluting it with factories during the Gilded Age, and let "no person, no matter how powerful, could intimidate him"– a paragon that everyone in the Gilded Age would benefit to follow from.

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Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Museum

Teddy's Childhood Journal

Teddy Roosevelt takes on the West

First Step to Bettering the Lives of the People

The New Governor of New York

The Vigorous Active President

Pure Food and Drug Act

Conservationist President

Conservationist President

The Memory Lives On

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