Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Join us for a special lecture at 12:00 on Saturday, April 18th about Robert Roosevelt, Theodore's uncle! Robert was an interesting character in his own right, often considered the "black sheep" of the Roosevelt family. The lecture will be presented by historian Bill Bleyer, author of The Roosevelts in New York City and Sagamore Hill: Theodore Roosevelt's Summer White House. Admission is free. This event is wheelchair accessible. Have a question? Please email [email protected].

On January 25, 2026, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace NHS will be closed due to inclement weather. The site will reopen on Wednesday, January 28th for normal operations.

Discover the Roosevelts' New York! Please join us on Saturday, January 10th at 12 pm as author and historian Bill Bleyer discusses the often unknown stories of the Roosevelt family. Attendance is free and no reservation required. We recommend attendees arrive at least ten minutes in advance to allow for time to be seated. The talk will take place in the upstairs auditorium at 28 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003.

During the federal government shutdown, this account will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited. For more details, visit:

Operations in the Absence of Appropriations | U.S. Department of the Interior Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

Are you seeing double? If you love National Parks, and you’ve ever taken the NYC subway, you may have noticed this font! Both the NPS unigrid (brochure) and the NYC subway’s signage and maps were designed by the same person, Massimo Vignelli. Since 1977, the NPS has used Mr. Vignelli’s iconic design to help orient, educate, and inspire millions of visitors from around the globe.

For more information about NPS unigrids, check out https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/a-brief-history-of-the-unigrid.htm

NPS Photo/L. Greer

SEASONAL SCHEDULE CHANGE: Beginning Wednesday, September 3rd, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace NHS will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 4:00. The tour schedule will remain the same.

For more information, please visit the official park website at www.nps.gov/thrb.

How did people beat the heat when TR was growing up in New York City? Public drinking fountains helped! Public fountains drew clean water from the Croton Reservoir aqueduct to benefit “both man and beast.” In Union Square, near TR’s childhood home, one of these fountains was donated in part by his father, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. “James Fountain” still stands in the West side of Union Square Park, serving as a reminder of Theodore Sr.’s lifetime of charity work.

Photo credit: NYCgovparks.org

Happy Independence Day from Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace NHS! Featured is an especially patriotic piece from our digital gallery:

‘Theodore Roosevelt laughing.’

Elise G., age 8, Bowie MD

Pencil and watercolor pencil on paper.

“This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

Juneteenth National Independence Day is held on the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation being enforced in Texas by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger’s General Order No. 3 in 1865. This order freed an estimated 250,000 enslaved people who were not freed by the initial Proclamation. The first Juneteenth celebrations were held in Texas one year later! Today, Juneteenth is observed across America as a celebration of freedom, resilience, and equality.

Juneteenth is also a Fee Free day for all National Park Service sites! Looking for a great way to celebrate Juneteenth? Get out and enjoy your public lands!

“We have been very fortunate, Bamie, in having a father whom we can love and respect more than any other man in the world.”

- From Theodore Roosevelt’s letter to his sister Anna (Bamie)

Theodore Roosevelt Sr., known as “Thee” or “Greatheart” by his family, was arguably Theodore Roosevelt’s most important childhood influence. His father’s strength, kindness, familial involvement, and passion for civic duty inspired a young TR to push his limits and start down the path to the strenuous life. Even after Thee’s premature death, TR kept the memory of his father alive through his sense of duty and a strict ethical code. In this letter excerpt from 1877, TR writes to his sister voicing his admiration for Thee.

Happy Father’s Day from Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site.

Photo credit: Harvard College Library, Dickinson State University Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library

Today, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country. Take a quiet moment to reflect on the memory of our fallen servicemembers.

Pictured is the monument in Arlington National Cemetery dedicated to the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry “Rough Riders.” Names of the fallen are listed on the side of the monument.

Image Credit: NPS courtesy of Harvard College Library, Theodore Roosevelt Collection