In the midst of downtown Buffalo, New York is the Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration National Historic Site. Unlike most presidency’s Theodore Roosevelt’s was conducted in a house following the assassination of William McKinley. After President McKinley was shot he did not succumb to his injuries for a few days, making the situation even more uncertain and leading to the sudden inauguration of Roosevelt. The inauguration took place in a historic home, which has become the focal point for the site to discuss the inauguration, as well as President McKinley, President Roosevelt, and the Pan-American exhibit.

We visited the historic home early in the morning and were able to participate on the first tour. The tour begins in the Pan-American exhibit and then moves to the historic home, which highlights events leading up to the assassination, while also the broader political and historical context. Afterwards, visitors are able to explore the upstairs exhibits that are interactive and provide additional details. We love exploring the national parks, but our favorite part was perhaps the creativity of the tour guide who pretended we went back in time together to experience the exhibition, and the inauguration itself. As we continue to explore the national parks, we have enjoyed the different aspects and complexity of history that the parks each highlight.