10/27/2026
Thank you President Roosevelt!
In 1903, Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir embarked on a three-day wilderness trip in Yosemite National Park. They camped the first night at the Mariposa Grove under the Grizzly Giant. The second night was spent near Sentinel Dome during a snowstorm. The third night was at the edge Bridalveil Meadow in Yosemite Valley. After the trip, Roosevelt said of Yosemite, "There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias...our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their Children's children forever..."
Born on October 27, 1858, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, left a lasting mark on America’s public lands. During his presidency, he established five national parks, designated 18 national monuments, created 51 federal bird reservations, and protected approximately 230 million acres of public land for future generations.
Today, you can celebrate his birthday by visiting a national park site for free! Several National Park Service sites are dedicated to Roosevelt and his legacy, including:
🐎 Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, New York
🏡 Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, New York
🌾 Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
🏛️ Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, New York
🌳 Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington, D.C.
⛰️ Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
Whether you explore a historic home, walk a trail, or take in a landscape Roosevelt helped inspire generations to protect, there’s no better way to celebrate his birthday than by getting out and discovering your public lands.
Image: President Roosevelt's choicest recreation - amid nature's rugged grandeur on Glacier Point, Yosemite. 1903. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
