Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt got sworn into his presidency in Buffalo, NY? I didn't either. We visited the house he was visiting when President McKinley was shot and killed and saw the spot where TR took the oath of office. We have bought a national parks pass for the year and it gives us discounted or free admission for lots of places including sites like this. We have certainly saved more than the cost of the $80 pass for our family. TR was a man who did things, some say he did things and didn't ask or get permission...he pushed the boundaries and powers of what a president could do. Of the white house, where business conducted in the residence part of the home, he suggested they tear down the greenhouse and put in a West Wing where business could be separate from his rowdy kids... he said "Smash the Glass!" He was not one to sit down and be quiet, he did many great things by being a man of action. There are three kids of people: immovable people, people can be moved and people who move! Often times the ones who speak up or do things get criticized by those who don't or are too afraid. Here is one of our FAVORITE quotes of his.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt
The first part of the house was a Pan American Festival celebration. At the turn of the century there was a huge celebration in Buffalo which had just received the first electric lights to show off and it brought together all the people, industry and products of the Americas. North America, Central America and South America. At one time we were all acting like one big America to share ideas and cultures and resources. It was quite a party! The museum's first section there was trivia a collection of old movie clips you had to crank to watch and a quiz about what kind of industrial person you'd be...a worker a manager or a titan of industry based on ethical questions about treatment of workers and pollution etc. My mom and I got very high scores! We even set aside picnics for workers and a recess every day for the kids in the coal mines HA HA HA. The movie told us about the festival, President McKinley being shot (there was no secret service as it took three assassinations before presidents were more protected). TR became president in a not so fun way but he really took the job seriously and paid tribute to the man before him by showing a lot of class and respect. He even visited the widow of mcKinley before he would ever take the oath as he felt it was his duty.
After the fun exhibit where we played the game and watched the fun stuff we started our tour that brought us back in time to the particular day just before TR took office as president, in the carriage ride over to the house and they let you see/hear what was on his mind. This was the most unique presentation we have seen so far. There was a fabric wall where images were lit up and a solid wall behind it where other pictures were and by moving the spotlight around it highlighted the images and TR narrated his thoughts telling a big story. A light would shine on a photo showing Teddy's thoughts as they were playing. From immigrants to industry to child laborers and slaves he came in to the presidency during a very active time. There was a lot going on in the country and in his mind as he took office. I felt he took things very seriously and was a thoughtful man who was ready for the challenge. He was vigorous and confident and adventurous.
We were led into the dining room where once again the museum did an excellent job adding details and effects. The whole museum was done as if Theodore Roosevelt had just left the room you entered. In the dining room his breakfast, coffee was on table and you could hear someone in the kitchen clanking dishes and stirring coffee and you could smell the coffee. It added a level of realism that made connecting with this exhibit a lot more fun and real. You could easily imagine him sitting there getting ready as he had to borrow a suit from his host since he rode all night in a rush once he got the news McKinley passed away. From there we saw the actual library where TR was sworn in. It was surrounded by books and again they played noises of furniture moving, people talking and then him speaking using the words people recorded on paper. It was really like being there. You could feel it in a personal way as this presidency didn't have the big ceremony like other presidents got to have. One of the spectators, Ansley Wilcox later wrote, “It takes less in the way of ceremony to make a president in this country, than it does to make a King in England or any monarchy, but the significance of the event is no less great.” It is not the office or the big party and building that make a great president, it's the person. Then you enter his actual study where he was sending and receiving telegraphs and you could read the actual ones sent by people. On his desk is the speech he gave just after being sworn in and the drafts were in the garbage. Later they were pulled out and examined and it is clear to see he wrote his own speeches and edited them himself and took a lot of care to get the words right when taking over for another President in a bad time.
Upstairs was more interactive. The first room is furnished like TR's oval office with a little more technology than he had back then. On the wall was a touch screen portrait frame where you could learn about five people who knew TR personally and shared their thoughts about him. Among them were John Muir and Booker T Washington. We learned a little about each of them which was nice because we kept running into John Muir at different places he was involved with or donated items to. The desk had a touch screen where you could get your photos as president and make the headlines of the newspaper. The other activity was you could pass or veto laws to see what kind of president you would be compared to Roosevelt. I ended up doing exactly the same thing as TR when I ran through the issues. The last thing in there was a giant globe with touch screens (wow they have a lot of touch screen to keep kids interested) that you can check out issues like when gold when found in Alaska and borders were pushed so there wasn't competition for the gold mines. In the hallway you could compare how the issues of his time are very similar to today...things like child labor, pollution and immigration. My favorite thing about TR was his love of nature and his acts to preserve national park areas for us to enjoy it and not let industry come and take it all way through logging and mining. He helped make nature preserve areas in many states.
This was a really great museum and we learned a lot about issues and the man. It felt very real and personal and like we were visiting his home where he just was a bit ago. Made the past not feel so far away or out of reach. Some of my favorite TR sayings are here below.
A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.
Theodore Roosevelt
A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.
A typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything real on real issues.
A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.
Believe you can and you're halfway there.
Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.
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