Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site facts for kids
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Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
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 Location in Manhattan
Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 28 East 20th Street New York, New York, U.S. |
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| Area | 0.11 acre (450 m²) |
| Built | 1848 (demolished 1916) rebuilt 1923 (replica) |
| Architect | Theodate Pope Riddle (replica) |
| Visitation | 11,158 (2005) |
| Website | Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000054 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site is a special house in New York City. It is a rebuilt brownstone building located at 28 East 20th Street in Manhattan. This historic site is important because it is where Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was born and spent his childhood.
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The Story of Theodore Roosevelt's Childhood Home
The original house at this spot was built in 1848. Theodore Roosevelt's family bought it in 1854. Theodore was born there on October 27, 1858. He lived in this house with his family until 1872. At that time, the area started to become more of a business district. So, his family moved to a new home further uptown on 57th Street.
Why the House Was Rebuilt
The original building was torn down in 1916 to make space for shops. However, after President Roosevelt passed away in 1919, a group called the Women's Roosevelt Memorial Association bought the land. They decided to rebuild the house exactly as it was. This group later joined with another, forming the Theodore Roosevelt Association.
The important job of rebuilding the house went to Theodate Pope Riddle. She was a famous female American architect. She also designed the museum next door, which is part of the historic site. A nearby house, which looked just like the Roosevelts' original home, was used as a guide. Some parts from that twin house were even used in the new building. The goal was to make the house look exactly as it did in 1865.
Bringing the House to Life Again
The rebuilt house was officially opened in 1923. Theodore Roosevelt's wife, Edith, and his two sisters helped furnish it. They used many items from the original house. They also shared memories of how the inside looked when Theodore lived there. This helped make the replica feel truly authentic.
In 1963, the Theodore Roosevelt Association gave the birthplace to the National Park Service. This made it a National Historic Site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Today, it is a museum where visitors can learn about President Roosevelt's life and his important contributions to the country.
Theodore Roosevelt's Memories of His Home
President Roosevelt himself wrote about his childhood home. In his 1913 autobiography, he described what the rooms looked like. He shared how he felt about certain items in the house.
He remembered the dining room furniture. It was made of black haircloth and scratched his legs! The middle room was a library, but it had no windows, so it was only useful at night. The front room, called the parlor, seemed very grand to the children. It was usually only open on Sundays or for special parties.
Roosevelt especially remembered a glass chandelier with many shiny prisms. One day, a prism fell off, and he secretly kept it. He also recalled a Swiss wood carving of a hunter and small mountain goats. He worried about a tiny baby goat being caught by the hunter. He also remembered a Russian moujik (a peasant) pulling a sled made of malachite. He thought the malachite was as valuable as diamonds!
The House's Design
The Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace is a three-story brownstone house. It has a special kind of roof called a mansard roof. There is also a high set of steps, called a stoop, leading up to the main entrance from the basement level. The decorative moldings above the windows and doorway are in the Gothic Revival style.
In 2014, the architect Theodate Pope Riddle was honored for her work on rebuilding this home. It was chosen as a winning site in the Built by Women New York City competition. This competition celebrates amazing places designed and built by women.
See also
In Spanish: Lugar Histórico Nacional del Nacimiento de Theodore Roosevelt para niños
