Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace

Profile

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was born in this Victorian-style brownstone in 1858 and lived here until he was 14, when his family went on a yearlong tour of Europe. Today the house is a historic landmark owned and operated by the National Park Service. In truth, this is not the original building in which Roosevelt resided. The house was demolished in 1916 and a two-story commercial building was slated to take its place. But in 1919 (the year of Roosevelt’s death), that plan was scrapped when residents of the neighborhood bought the house and resurrected his home. Five rooms in the building were reconstructed with the family’s original furniture. Roosevelt’s two sisters and his wife even helped to recreate the original appearance of the interior by providing the original color schemes, layouts and details of the rooms. The house was opened to the public in 1923. — Christina Hribar

Each room has been reconstructed in the Victorian style, with some bearing hints of Gothic Revival and Rococo Revival. The furniture in each room, which belonged to the family, is extremely high quality. While today the rooms stand as a memoir of Roosevelt’s life, they also provide a look at upper class life at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Museum
Located on the ground floor of the house is a small room that contains objects from the former president’s life. Such objects include the family’s Bible, Roosevelt’s christening gown and his military uniform. Full viewing is only worthwhile if there are at least 15 minutes to spare before the tour begins.

Tours
Tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday, every hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and last about 30 minutes.