Conservation President
Part of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial.
"There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country. Just as we must conserve our men, women and children, so we must conserve the resources of the land on which they live." —Theodore Roosevelt
Becomes 26th President: While Roosevelt visits the Adirondacks, President McKinley is shot. He dies eight days later. A hasty inauguration ceremony is held in Buffalo, New York.
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First Message to Congress: Roosevelt insists that government should preserve wilderness and natural resources "for the use and benefit of our people as a whole."
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Carriage Accident: While campaigning in Massachusetts, Roosevelt is thrown from a carriage and permanently injures his left leg.
![Exaggerated cartoon of Theodore Roosevelt, wearing a big hat and holding a gun, walking away from a person holding a tied up small bear.](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/tr-timeline/conservation-president/1902-bear-cartoon/695894-2-eng-US/1902-bear-cartoon_full_610.jpg)
Bear Hunt: While hunting in Mississippi, Roosevelt refuses to shoot a captured bear. Shortly afterwards, a toy manufacturer introduces stuffed bears and calls them "Teddy Bears."
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![Painting of mountains and a row of trees reflected in a clear lake in front of them.](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/tr-timeline/conservation-president/1903-alaska/695954-2-eng-US/1903-alaska_full_610.jpg)
Alaskan Boundary Dispute Settled: After the settlement of a dispute with Britain over the Canada-Alaska border, Roosevelt protects Alaskan lands and wildlife.
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![A large crowd, including someone on horseback and soldiers, assembled in front of the Capitol building which is decorated with American flags..](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/tr-timeline/conservation-president/1904--inauguration/701935-2-eng-US/1904--inauguration_full_610.jpg)
Wins Presidential Election: Roosevelt wins in a landslide. "I am glad to be elected President in my own right."
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Ken Salazar: Roosevelt pioneers government efforts to protect wildlife, creating four game preserves during his presidency.
![William Hornaday stands in a room in front of a bookshelf, holding a large book open.](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/tr-timeline/conservation-president/1905--hornaday/701955-1-eng-US/1905--hornaday_full_610.jpg)
Cofounds American Bison Society: To rehabilitate Great Plains bison populations, Roosevelt joins with New York Zoological Society director William Hornaday in founding this organization.
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David Hurst Thomas: Signs the Antiquities Act; eventually protects 18 sites, including archeological locations of Native peoples.
Signs Pure Food and Drug Act: Roosevelt expanded government's role in areas outside of conservation. Federal meat inspection was the key component of this landmark act.
Travels to Panama: The first president to travel internationally while in office; inspects Panama Canal construction.
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![Over 60 people gathered for a group photo, with the front row seated and back rows standing.](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/tr-timeline/conservation-president/1908-conference-of-governors/701965-1-eng-US/1908-conference-of-governors_full_610.jpg)
Conference of Governors: Concerned about resources, Roosevelt calls the first Conference of Governors to consider conservation issues.
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Douglas Brinkley: In just a few days, Roosevelt protects more than 16 million acres of forest.
End of Presidential Term: As president, Roosevelt launched programs that would protect more than 230 million acres of U.S. land.