An Island for a Conservationist

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Floating in the Potomac River is a unique sanctuary: Theodore Roosevelt Island. It wasn't always a park; back in the day, it was neglected farmland. In 1932, the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association purchased the land, and throughout the 1930s, it was transformed into a tribute to the 26th president.

You can still see the influence of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the way the memorial was developed. Today, it serves as a living legacy to Roosevelt's passion for the outdoors. As you walk past the seventeen-foot bronze statue and the stone pillars etched with his quotations, you're stepping away from the city noise and into the spirit of a great conservationist.

Updated June 2026