Tag: National Historic Site

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

On By nationalparkswithtIn New York2 Comments
Parks and other public lands with T!

Western NY Parks➤

In September, I set out with a road trip buddy to visit some park units in upstate New York. For me, the highlight of this trip was visiting my 100th National Park Service unit. That puts me at Bronze status in the National Parks Traveler’s Club. After Women’s Rights National Historical Park, we drove west across New York state to Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site➤

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site preserves the Ansley Wilcox House in Buffalo, New York. Roosevelt took the oath of office as President of the United States in this house. John Hazel, a district judge administered the oath to Roosevelt following the assassination of William McKinley in September 1901.

McKinley was a popular president who liked to shake hands with the people. He attended the Pan-American Exposition to connect with the public and to help bolster ticket sales. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz shot McKinley in the abdomen in the Temple of Music. Surgeons stitched the president up but couldn’t extract the bullet.

Theodore Roosevelt had been elected vice president for McKinley’s second term. McKinley’s first vp died during his first term. News reached Roosevelt in the Adirondack wilderness that McKinley was wounded but recovering. A few days later Roosevelt rushed to Buffalo when he learned the President’s condition had deteriorated. McKinley died of gangrene before TR arrived.

The first part of the museum displays items from the 1901 Pan-American Exposition with a few interactive carnival-type games. The tour continues through the restored Wilcox parlors. It was here that Roosevelt took the oath.

Upstairs is a recreation of the office Roosevelt used during his presidency. It includes an interactive desk which can be used to send photo e-mails to yourself. In the 1930s, after the Wilcoxes died, a restaurant took over the property and auctioned off all the furnishings. The park service bought the building after the restaurant closed in 1961 and restored it.

Western NY Road Trip➤

Location: 641 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY
Designation: National Historic Site
Date designated/established: November 2, 1966
Date of my visit: September 25, 2022