Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site

On September 14th, 1901, Theodore Roosevelt (TR) was sworn in as the 26th President of the United States in Buffalo. Attorney Ansley Wilcox hosted the unexpected inauguration in the library of his Delaware Avenue home, following President William McKinley’s assassination at the Pan-American Exposition. Occurring in the aftermath of tragedy, TR’s inauguration demonstrates the resilience of the American nation and its democracy. The simple ceremony reminded the country and the world that a peaceful transfer of power was possible, even after violence. It also paved the way for the birth of the modern presidency.

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site (TR Site) preserves the former Wilcox home and is Western New York’s only unit of the National Park Service (NPS). Since its inception, the TR Site has been operated and managed by a local 501c3 nonprofit organization – the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation – under the auspices of a cooperative agreement with NPS. Annual operating costs are shared by the two entities, with the Foundation raising approximately two-thirds within the local, WNY community.

The TR Site welcomes nearly 30,000 people each year through guided house tours and its various programming initiatives. A guided tour invites visitors of all ages to experience TR’s inauguration as a step back in time. It begins with a visit to Buffalo’s Pan-Am Exposition and the drama-filled days of September, 1901. A storytelling framework encourages visitors to feel as if they are following in TR’s footsteps and they “catch up” with him as he takes the oath in the Wilcox library. Self-guided interactive exhibits on the museum’s second floor allow visitors to explore TR's presidency and encourage a thoughtful examination of how the issues he faced continue to resonate in today’s world.

The former Ansley Wilcox house was saved from demolition due to the untiring efforts and leadership of community volunteers, with the support of Congressional representatives. It was added to the National Registry of Historic Places on November 2, 1966, becoming the first National Landmark in Buffalo and Erie County. The Foundation was granted a provisional charter from the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York in 1967; an absolute charter was granted in 1970 and amended in 2000. Following a painstaking restoration, the museum opened to the public on the 70th anniversary of TR’s inauguration (September 14th, 1971). The TR Site is one of only four locations outside the nation’s capital where a U.S. president was sworn into office.

MISSION: The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site preserves the home in Buffalo, New York, where Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th president of the united states in 1901; promotes opportunities for the public to understand the historic events surrounding the inauguration; and fosters discussion of Roosevelt, his presidency, and his legacy.