Lifelong Explorer: Theodore Roosevelt Timeline

50 - 60

LIFELONG

EXPLORER

“No man leads a hardier or more adventurous life than the collecting naturalist whose quest takes him to the uttermost parts of the earth…If he has eyes to see he will have many a tale to tell…of true stories of adventure in strange lands.”
–Theodore Roosevelt
TRAVELS TO AFRICA

With son Kermit and three Smithsonian naturalists, spends a year collecting specimens

Sails for Mombasa To busy himself during his post-presidency, Roosevelt and his son travel to Africa to collect specimens for the Smithsonian. Thousands of admirers turn out to see him off.

The Roosevelt party traveled through British East Africa (now Kenya), Uganda and Sudan (now separated into South Sudan and Sudan). Theodore’s wife Edith met her husband and son in Sudan and traveled with them into what is now Egypt.

For parts of the trip, porters carried all the expedition’s supplies, including tons of curing salt to preserve specimens and the famous "Pigskin Library," 46 volumes selected by Roosevelt and specially bound in the leather he thought would hold up best in the field.

At 20, Kermit was an eager explorer and avid hunter. He also served as the official photographer of the expedition. His first lessons in photography came from AMNH’s Frank Chapman.

After the White House, Roosevelt supported himself largely through writing. The series of articles he sent home from Africa for Scribner’s magazine were later collected in the book African Game Trails.
1909

MARCH
PUBLISHES AFRICAN GAME TRAILS

The book—collected articles written during his Africa trip—is one of many written to support himself after his presidency

1910
FLIES IN AIRPLANE

Former President Roosevelt is the first Commander-in-Chief to fly in a plane

1910

OCTOBER
AT AMNH

Theodore Roosevelt Park

Theodore Roosevelt Park
(Outside the Museum)

Theodore Roosevelt Park surrounds the Museum

The grounds surrounding the Museum, originally known as Manhattan Square, were renamed Theodore Roosevelt Park in 1958, on the 100th anniversary of his birth. The area includes the Bull Moose Dog Run and an obelisk inscribed with the names of American Nobel Prize winners—including the first winner, Theodore Roosevelt.

ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT

Tries for Republican presidential nomination. Loses nomination, and forms “Bull Moose” party to continue unprecedented run for a third term

1912

FEBRUARY
CAMPAIGNS FROM SAGAMORE HILL

During his rigorous 1912 campaign, works from his Long Island home

1912

SUMMER
SHOT BY ASSASSIN

Bullet passes through a 50-page speech and glasses case, lodging in a rib. Gives scheduled speech, saying, “It takes more than that to kill a bull moose”

1912

OCTOBER 14
EDMUND MORRIS

Loses the presidency to Wilson, but places second, ahead of incumbent Taft

1912

NOVEMBER 5
DAVID HURST THOMAS

Visits Hopi, Arizona; over the years, Roosevelt developed a keen interest in Native cultures

1913

AUGUST
PUBLISHES AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Roosevelt writes about his life, from childhood through his presidency

1913
AT AMNH

Collected by Roosevelt

Hall of South American
Peoples (2^rd floor)

On his 1913-1914 trip to South America, Roosevelt wrote of indigenous peoples’ adornments, collecting this Namikuara necklace and many other items along the way

Roosevelt collected this palm nut bead necklace (second from right) in Brazil. It was made by the indigenous Nambikuara peoples and is now on display in the Adornment case of the Hall of South American Peoples on the second floor.

PATRICIA O’TOOLE

Roosevelt agrees to help map an uncharted river; discovers it’s an Amazon tributary

1913

OCTOBER
AT AMNH

Collected by Roosevelt

Hall of South American
Peoples (2^rd floor)

During a 1913-1914 trip to South America, Roosevelt collected this bamboo flute and hundreds of other objects

Roosevelt collected this bamboo flute during his 1913-1914 journey in South America, shortly before an expedition down the uncharted Amazon tributary, Rio da Dúvida—the River of Doubt. This flute was made by the indigenous Paressí people, of Brazil. Visitors can see it on display in the Music section of the Hall of South American Peoples on the second floor.

MAPS RIVER OF DOUBT

The dangers, from malaria and near starvation to murderous companions, nearly kill Roosevelt

1914

FEBRUARY-APRIL
AT AMNH

Donated by Roosevelt

Hall of South American
Peoples (2^rd floor)

Roosevelt donated this dung and skin of Mylodon darwinii, a giant ground sloth that lived some 10,000 years ago

Roosevelt donated many objects to the Museum, including this skin and dung of an extinct giant ground sloth from South America. The skin specimen, discovered in the late 1890s in a cave in southern Chile, is now in the “Early Peoples” section of the Hall of South American Peoples on the second floor.

DEFENDS HIS FINDINGS

When geographers doubt the discovery of a river nearly 1,000 miles long, Roosevelt quickly persuades them they are wrong

1914

MAY
SPENDS TIME AT SAGAMORE HILL

Enjoys family and the outdoors at his beloved home in Long Island, NY

1914
START OF WWI

The Roosevelts support the war effort. All four sons volunteer (Archie seated on floor; Kermit on right)

1914

JULY 28
VISITS BIRD RESERVATION

After his presidency, takes time to explore the diverse lands he preserved

1915

JUNE
SON DIES

Roosevelt’s youngest son, Quentin, is killed in France while serving as a fighter pilot. Two other sons are wounded but recover

1918

JULY 14
EDMUND MORRIS

After his 1912 presidential run, Roosevelt devotes himself to writing

1918
DIES

Roosevelt dies in his sleep at Sagamore Hill. He is 60 years old

1919

JANUARY 6
END OF FOURTH CHAPTER

To continue, choose Conservation Legacy

1919

TRAVELS TO AFRICA RUNS FOR PRESIDENT TRAVELS TO SOUTH AMERICA

LAST PASSENGER PIGEON DIES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CREATED

Titanic sinks World War I

Launch full screen

BE A NATURALIST