Theodore Roosevelt Monument Assemblage facts for kids

The Theodore Roosevelt Monument Assemblage is a special collection of 24 stones and a plaque. You can find it in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay, New York. Each stone and object is like a "chapter" in a book. Together, they tell the amazing story of Theodore Roosevelt, who was the 26th President of the United States.

Theodore Roosevelt re-enactor Joe Wiegand beside the Theodore Roosevelt Monument Assemblage in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park

The Story in Stones: A President's Life

This monument uses rocks and other items to show important moments in Theodore Roosevelt's life. A large plaque from 1991 explains what each "chapter" represents.

Chapter 1: His Birth

This chapter is a brick from the house where Roosevelt was born in New York City. He was born on October 27, 1858.

Chapter 2: Getting Healthy

A granite step from a house in Moosehead Lake, Maine, shows where young Roosevelt got his health back.

Chapter 3: College Days

A stone from Cambridge, Massachusetts, represents Roosevelt's four years at Harvard College.

Chapter 4: Starting in Politics

A piece of slate from Morton Hall in New York City marks his first steps into politics.

Chapter 5: As an Assemblyman

A stone from Albany shows where Roosevelt began his government career.

Chapter 6: Cowboy Life

A boulder from Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota reminds us of Theodore Roosevelt's time as a cowboy.

Chapter 7: Civil Service Commissioner

A stone from Roosevelt House in New York City represents his work as a Civil Service Commissioner.

Chapter 8: Police Commissioner

A brick from the Mulberry Street Station in New York City shows where he made history as Police Commissioner.

Chapter 9: Assistant Secretary of the Navy

A boulder from Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. marks his time as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

Chapter 10: The Rough Riders

A boulder from San Juan Hill celebrates the Rough Riders and their victory.

Chapter 11: Governor of New York

A stone from Camp Black in Montauk Point shows where he agreed to run for Governor of New York.

Chapter 12: Erie Canal

A boulder from the Erie Canal in Herkimer represents his work on the barge canals.

Chapter 13: His Home

A boulder from Sagamore Hill, his home, shows his strong connection to Oyster Bay.

Chapter 14: Vice President

A stone from a Philadelphia home marks where he was nominated for Vice President of the United States.

Chapter 15: Becoming President

A stone from the Adirondacks shows where Theodore Roosevelt was when he learned he would become President of the United States.

Chapter 16: Taking the Oath

A stone from Wilcox House in Buffalo marks where he took the oath of office in 1901.

Chapter 17: Protecting Nature

A stone from Theodore Roosevelt Dam in Arizona represents President Roosevelt's efforts to protect the nation's natural resources.

Chapter 18: The Coal Strike

A piece of coal from Pennsylvania anthracite mines shows how he helped settle a big coal strike.

Chapter 19: Panama Canal

A boulder from Culebra Cut in the Panama Canal represents one of his greatest achievements.

Chapter 20: Ending a War

A boulder from Portsmouth, N.H., marks where he helped end the Russo-Japanese War.

Chapter 21: "Big Stick" and "Square Deal"

A native rock represents Theodore Roosevelt's famous "big stick" foreign policy and his "square deal" for fairness.

Chapter 22: World Tour

A 7-inch shell from the U.S. Navy symbolizes his "Great White Fleet" world tour, a big move for peace.

Chapter 23: Author and Man

A bronze book represents Theodore Roosevelt's life as an author. He wrote 31 books!

Chapter 24: His Passing

This chapter marks his death on January 6, 1919. He was 60 years, 2 months, and 9 days old.

The monument was first dedicated in Great Neck on June 10, 1922. It was moved and rededicated in Oyster Bay on October 25, 1947. The current plaque was added during another rededication on June 23, 1991.

Some individual plaques for the stones are now missing. However, some still remain, giving more details about specific chapters.

Where the Stones Are: A Map

This map shows where each stone is located within the monument, matching the chapter numbers.

Map of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, Oyster Bay, NY

How the Monument Began

The idea for this monument came from Paul Brorstrom. He started collecting boulders on his estate to tell President Roosevelt's life story.

The very first and largest boulder was dedicated on April 13, 1919, shortly after Roosevelt's death. It has a plaque that says:

Roosevelt Memorial Oak
to the Sacred Memory of
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
the Great American
PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES
1901-1908

Planted Palm Sunday 1919 A.D.
by Paul Brorstrom

Three main boulders formed the start of the monument when it was dedicated in Great Neck in 1922. One was from Sagamore Hill, Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay. Another was from San Juan Hill, where Roosevelt led his "Rough Riders" during the Spanish-American War. The third was from the Adirondack Mountains, marking where he was when he became president.

Over time, the collection grew from these first stones to 24 items. These included boulders, smaller stones, bricks, and a large granite step. They all represent different parts of Roosevelt's life and achievements. Six more stones were added between 1921 and 1924.

In 1947, the expanded monument was moved to Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay. This park had been given to the Town of Oyster Bay in 1943. Moving the monument there made the park even more meaningful as a memorial to Roosevelt.

Keeping the Monument Safe

In 1994, experts looked at the monument and said it needed urgent care. Since then, not much work has been done to fix it. Some plaques have gone missing. The ground around the monument often gets wet. Some stones have cracks that are getting bigger. Also, some repairs have used materials that don't match the original stones.