Theodore Roosevelt enjoys a reputation as one of the great presidents in United States history and a champion of the great outdoors. Yet, his story began in a brownstone in the Gramercy Park area, where Roosevelt spent his childhood. Roosevelt belonged to a prominent family and lived comfortably, but his father was active in philanthropic work throughout the city (as we learned during our time at the site, his father’s death was mourned by many of the area’s under-privileged youth). Roosevelt was frequently ill when he was child, and only later became the more vigorous personality we envision when we think of his wilderness adventures and time as a Rough Rider, but he was always curious, and his birthplace was the scene of his early adventures.

Unfortunately, the brownstone located at the site today is a reconstruction, but the house is redesigned to look as it did when Roosevelt lived there. Visitors can only see the house on a tour, which is offered several times a day and is free, although you’ll want to get there earlier to ensure you are able to go on a tour. However, the bottom floor of the site is open to the public and offers an informative video that details Roosevelt’s early life, a few items associated with Roosevelt’s life, including the speech he had in his pocket when he was shot in an assassination attempt (the speech slowed the bullet and probably prevented his death–you can see the bullet hole in the speech), and a descriptive timeline of his life.

The tour was informative, and our tour guide provided detailed information that wasn’t available in the video or other displays. The tour took us from the entrance of the home to several of the rooms in the house, including the bedroom where Roosevelt slept, the ornate parlor, and the beautifully decorated dining space. The wallpaper, decorations, and furniture are splendid and worth visiting in and of themselves.

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We love national park sites, but Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site impressed us as one of the better historic sites we have been to. It was informative, pleasant, and interesting, both in its historical content and for the pictures it offered us of Theodore Roosevelt’s childhood. We recommend visiting this lesser-known New York City attraction, especially if you love history and the national parks.