Theodore Roosevelt Memorial

The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial

Quick Facts

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Although the entire island was designed as a living memorial by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and replanted by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the memorial plaza is its centerpiece and occupies the highest point on the island. Completed in 1967, the memorial plaza depicts Theodore Roosevelt in a speaking pose, surrounded by his own quotes on a variety of virtues he espoused.

Architect: Eric Gugler
Sculptor: Paul Manship

Inscriptions
YOUTH
I WANT TO SEE YOU GAME, BOYS.
I WANT TO SEE YOU BRAVE AND MANLY,
AND I ALSO WANT TO SEE YOU GENTLE AND TENDER.
BE PRACTICAL AS WELL AS GENEROUS IN YOUR IDEALS.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE STARS
BUT REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR
FEET ON THE GROUND.
COURAGE, HARD WORK,
SELF-MASTERY
AND INTELLIGENT EFFORT
ARE ALL ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESSFUL LIFE.
ALIKE FOR THE NATION AND THE INDIVIDUAL
THE ONE INDISPENSABLE REQUISITE IS
CHARACTER.

THE STATE
OURS IS A GOVERNMENT
OF LIBERTY.
BY THROUGH AND UNDER THE LAW.
A GREAT DEMOCRACY HAS GOT TO BE PROGRESSIVE OR IT WILL SOON CEASE TO BE GREAT OR A DEMOCRACY.
IN POPULAR GOVERNMENT RESULTS WORTH HAVING CAN BE ACHIEVED ONLY BY MEN WHO COMBINE
WORTHY IDEALS
WITH PRACTICAL GOOD SENSE.
IF I MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE
I CHOOSE RIGHTEOUSNESS.

MANHOOD
A MAN'S USEFULNESS
DEPENDS UPON HIS LIVING UP TO
HIS IDEALS
IN SO FAR AS HE CAN.
IT IS HARD TO FAIL BUT IT IS WORSE
NEVER TO HAVE TRIED TO SUCCEED.
ALL DARING & COURAGE,
ALL IRON ENDURANCE OF MISFORTUNE
MAKE FOR A FINER & NOBLER TYPE OF
MANHOOD.
ONLY THOSE ARE FIT TO LIVE
WHO DO NOT FEAR TO DIE AND NONE ARE FIT TO DIE
WHO HAVE SHRUNK FROM THE
JOY OF LIFE
AND THE
DUTY OF LIFE.

NATURE
THERE IS DELIGHT IN THE
HARDY LIFE OF THE OPEN.
THERE ARE NO WORDS THAT CAN
TELL THE HIDDEN SPIRIT OF THE WILDERNESS THAT CAN REVEAL ITS MYSTERY,
ITS MELANCHOLY
AND ITS CHARM.
THE NATION BEHAVES WELL IF IT TREATS THE
NATURAL RESOURCES AS ASSETS WHICH IT MUST TURN OVER TO
THE NEXT GENERATION,
INCREASED AND NOT IMPAIRED IN VALUE.
CONSERVATION
MEANS DEVELOPMENT
AS MUCH AS IT DOES
PROTECTION.