Theodore Roosevelt

Hello there! My name is Theodore Roosevelt, but many people called me Teddy. I was born in a big house in New York City on October 27th, 1858. When I was a little boy, I was often sick with something called asthma, which made it hard to breathe. I decided I didn’t want to be sick anymore, so I started exercising to make my body strong. I also loved learning about animals and the great outdoors, filling my room with birds' nests, insects, and books about nature.

I believed in living what I called a 'strenuous life'—a life full of excitement and hard work! When I was a young man in the 1880s, I moved to the Dakota Territory to be a real cowboy. I learned to ride horses and herd cattle under the big, open sky. Later, in 1898, I helped lead a group of brave soldiers called the 'Rough Riders' in a war. Adventure was always calling my name!

In 1901, I became the 26th President of the United States. It was a very important job, and I wanted to make sure everything was fair for all Americans—I called this the 'Square Deal.' But one of my biggest passions was protecting nature. I saw that our beautiful forests, mountains, and rivers were in danger. So, I used my power as president to create 5 national parks, 150 national forests, and many other special places. I wanted to make sure that wild and wonderful places would be safe for children like you to explore forever.

Have you ever snuggled with a teddy bear? Well, that toy was named after me! The story goes that in 1902, I was on a hunting trip in Mississippi. Some people had caught a bear and tied it to a tree for me to shoot. But I said no! It wouldn't be fair to the bear. A toymaker heard about my decision and made a stuffed bear. He called it a 'Teddy Bear,' and the name stuck!

I lived to be 60 years old, and my life was packed with adventure. Today, people remember me as a president who had big ideas and lots of energy. Most of all, they remember how much I loved America's wild places. The national parks and forests I helped save are still here for you to visit, so you can see the wonderful nature I worked so hard to protect.