Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
Location: 28 East 20th Street
New York, New York, U.S.
Area: 0.11 acre (450 m²)
Built: 1848 (demolished 1916)
rebuilt 1923 (replica)
July 25, 1962 (site founded)
Architect: Theodate Pope Riddle (replica)
Visitation: 11,158 (2005)
Governing body: National Park Service
NRHP Reference#: 66000054[1]
Added to NRHP: October 15, 1966

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site is a recreated brownstone at 28 East 20th Street, between Broadway and Park Avenue South, in Manhattan, New York City.

As of summer 2011, the site is temporarily closed to the public, pending emergency repairs to a fire escape. According to the National Park Service, the repairs are currently expected to be completed by November 2011.[2]

Contents

History

The house that originally stood on the site was built in 1848, and was bought by the Roosevelts in 1854.[3] Theodore Roosevelt was born there on October 27, 1858, and lived in the house with his family until 1872 when the neighborhood began to become more commercial, and the family moved uptown to West 57th Street.[3][4]

The original building was demolished in 1916,[5] but the lot was purchased and the house rebuilt in 1919 by the Women's Roosevelt Memorial Association, which eventually merged with the Roosevelt Memorial Association in 1953 to form the Theodore Roosevelt Association. Noted female American architect Theodate Pope Riddle was given the task of reconstructing a replica of the house, as well as designing the museum, situated next door, that serves to complete the site. The row house next door at No. 26, which was a twin to the Roosevelts', was used as a model, and some architectural elements from it were incorporated into the replicae. The twin house was demolished to make space for the museum.[6][3] The restoration recreates the house as it was in 1865.[5]

The house was rededicated in 1923 and was subsequently refurbished with many furnishings from the original house by the President's widow, Edith, and his two sisters. The widow and sisters also supplied information about the interior's appearance during Roosevelt's residency. It now serves as a museum dedicated to the life and contributions of the 26th President of the United States. There is no entrance fee to the house or the museum.

The Theodore Roosevelt Association donated the Birthplace to the National Park Service in 1963, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.

Architecture

The three-story brownstone house features a mansard roof, and a high stoop above the basement. The hooded moldings above the windows and doorway are in the Gothic Revival style.[3]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ "NPS Focus". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov. Retrieved September 3, 2010. 
  2. ^ http://www.nps.gov/thrb/index.htm
  3. ^ a b c d Mendelsohn, Joyce. Touring the Flatiron. New York: New York Landmarks Conservancy, 1998. ISBN 0-964-7061-2-1
  4. ^ Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
  5. ^ a b White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot (2000). AIA Guide to New York City (4th ed.). New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0812931076. 
  6. ^ Kevin Walsh, Forgotten New York 2006:165
Sources

External links