This hall is a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt (1858—1919), and the contributions he made to city, state, and nation through the many roles he played during his life. Born in New York City and raised in Oyster Bay, Long Island, Roosevelt became involved in New York City and State government, and went on to serve as Vice President and later, President of the United States. He was a pioneer of the conservation movement and had been involved with the American Museum of Natural History since his childhood—the original charter creating the Museum was signed in his family home in 1869.
Roosevelt's many accomplishments include winning the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for a treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War; and leading a Museum expedition to South America to chart the unknown course of the River of Doubt, found to be a branch of the Amazon (later renamed Rio Teodoro in his honor). Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a bear for sport while on a hunt led to the creation of the famous toy Teddy Bear.
The four dioramas in the hall depict Roosevelt's Elk Horn Ranch, in the badlands of North Dakota; an Adirondacks forest scene representing his support for conservation of both wildlife and forests; the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary in Oyster Bay, New York, which is also Roosevelt's final resting place; and lastly, a scene from Old New York in 1660, depicting Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New York, receiving a delegation of Hackensack Indians from New Jersey. Theodore Roosevelt's ancestors settled in lower Manhattan around 1644, and he also served as Governor of New York State.
This hall also features an insect collection case showing various beetles and entomology photos.