Theodore Roosevelt Island

On By nationalparkswithtIn District of Columbia
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DC Trip 2024➤

Our congressman came through with tickets to visit the White House in October of 2024. So my husband and I took a long weekend to visit Washington, DC. He hadn’t been to many of the sites, so we spent a few days visiting the various National Park Service units. We toured several memorials, monuments and other sites, including Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Memorial to TR➤

Day three of our Washington, D.C., trip began with an early Uber ride across the Potomac River to Theodore Roosevelt Island. The morning light was just beginning to rise, and the sun sat low on the horizon as we reached the trailhead off the George Washington Memorial Parkway. From there, we crossed the long pedestrian bridge to the island, leaving the noise of the highway for the quiet of the woods in only a few steps.

Theodore Roosevelt Island is both a National Memorial and a unit of the National Park Service. Congress dedicated the island as a memorial to Roosevelt in 1960, choosing this natural setting to reflect his lifelong commitment to conservation. The island had once been farmland and later an overgrown, neglected space, but the NPS restored it to a more natural landscape that represented Roosevelt’s love of wild places. Today, the Park Service preserves the forests, marshes, and trails while maintaining the memorial plaza, ensuring that visitors can experience both history and nature in one peaceful setting.

Exploring the Island➤

Sunrise reflected on the water below us, and the cool air felt perfect for exploring a memorial dedicated to a president who loved the outdoors. The island stands as a living tribute to Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy. Instead of marble structures and wide plazas, this site honors him with forest trails, marsh views, and a peaceful memorial set deep among the trees.

At the center of the island, we reached the memorial plaza. A large bronze statue of Theodore Roosevelt rose from a granite pedestal, surrounded by four tall pillars inscribed with values he championed—Nature, Manhood, Youth, and The State. We paused to read the quotations and take photos of the quiet space. The design felt simple but powerful, a fitting reminder of Roosevelt’s commitment to protecting wild places.

After exploring the plaza, we followed one of the wooded trails. The path wound through tall trees and thick undergrowth, with occasional glimpses of the Potomac between the branches. It was peaceful at this early hour. A few joggers passed by, their footsteps fading quickly down the trail. We enjoyed the calm as we walked, listening to birds and the soft rustle of leaves overhead.

It was a refreshing start to the day and a beautiful tribute to a president who believed in preserving nature for everyone. When we finished our loop, we crossed back over the bridge and returned to the path along the George Washington Parkway to continue our morning.

2024 DC Trip Posts➤

Location: George Washington Memorial Parkway, Arlington, Virginia
Designation: National Memorial
Date designated/established: May 21, 1932
Date of my visit: October 25, 2024

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