The Theodore Roosevelt Park in New York City is a city park located in the Upper West Side. It can be found abutted to Central Park and is most well known as being the home of the American Museum of Natural History.
History of Theodore Roosevelt Park
Theodore Roosevelt Park is named after the United States president Theodore Roosevelt. Not only was he the youngest President of the United States but he has many connections with New York City. He was the New York City Police Commissioner and the Governor of New York State.
The plot of land that the Theodore Roosevelt Park sits on was first mapped out to be a public park back in 1807. It was considered an annex to Central Park.
Eventually, the American Museum of Natural History was allocated the site and construction work began in 1874. The museum opened in 1877.
The parkland was then-known as Manhattan Square.
In 1936, a Theodore Roosevelt Memorial was dedicated on the side of the park facing Central Park West. In 1958, the parkland was renamed Theodore Roosevelt Park. Other names that locals call the park include Museum Park and Dinosaur Park.
What to Expect at Theodore Roosevelt Park
Nowadays, millions of visitors pass through Theodore Roosevelt Park on the way to the American Museum of Natural History, which dominates the park.
The new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation wing of the museum establishes a new entrance on the Museum’s west side, at Columbus Avenue and 79th Street, in the park.
There is a statue of Theodore Roosevelt astride a horse.
The New York Times Capsule occupies a monolith. The time capsule holds more than 100 objects and artifacts.
There is a monument to Alfred Nobel within the park as well.
In the northwest section of the park, you will be able to find the Margaret Mead Green, an area that is named in honor of the anthropologist who spent most of her life in New York City.
She was a research fellow and curator of ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History from 1926 until her death in 1978. The Margaret Mead Green is overlooked by the Museum tower where she had her office in the museum.
