Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Island
Theodore Roosevelt was a man with vision. He considered the future before making decisions and his legacies still influence us. Perhaps his greatest legacy was in conservation. This wooded island is a fitting memorial to the outdoorsman, naturalist, and visionary who was our 26th President.
The island is an impressive memorial to Theodore Roosevelt. The memorial has as it's centerpiece a large bronze statue of Roosevelt. There are also four large tablets that state his philosophies on such subjects as youth, the role of the state, manhood, and honor. The whole thing is bracketed by several large fountains and reflecting pools.
After Roosevelt's death on January 6, 1919, citizens wanted to establish a memorial in his honor. The 91 acre wooded island in the Potomac seemed the perfect place. The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association purchased the island in 1932. Congress approved funds in 1960 and the memorial was dedicated on October 27, 1967. Eric Gugler designed the memorial and Paul Manship designed the statue.
Personal Reflections:
Although I did not go out to the island, I did see it many times as we crossed the George Washington Memorial Bridge. Knowing that Theodore Roosevelt believed in conservation of our natural resources, the island and surrounding woods are a fitting tribute. Theodore Roosevelt will always be remembered as the President that began the National Parks Service, in order to preserve our nation's heritage.....
