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Museum Tour
On September 14th, 1901, an anxious Theodore Roosevelt stood in the library of a friend's home in Buffalo, NY. Hours earlier, President William McKinley had died of an assassin's bullet, and now Roosevelt stood ready to rise to the highest office in the land. Roosevelt had been in the vice-presidency for barely six months and had privately feared that his political career was ended with his election to a largely powerless office. Yet at 3:32 pm of September 14th, Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 26th President of the United States as a consequence of unforeseen tragedy. Roosevelt's administration would expand the role of the United States in world affairs, change the relationship between the American government and its citizens, and alter the shape of the presidency itself. The tour focuses on the circumstances of Theodore Roosevelt's presidential inauguration in Buffalo in 1901, the cultural and political climate of the time, and the significance of the inauguration for Western New York, the United States and the world. Interactive exhibits supplement the tour, taking visitors back to 1901, where they are invited to visit the Wilcox home on the day of Theodore Roosevelt's inauguration. Topics addressed include the Pan-American Exposition, the assassination of President William McKinley, and the subsequent inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt in the Wilcox home in Buffalo in 1901. The tour will also discuss challenges facing America in TR's time, such as: · abuses of big business vs. the beginnings of organized labor · desperate urban poverty, which was steadily increasing due to massive waves of immigration · the plight of African-Americans and others who were excluded from the American dream · questions of conservation of natural resources vs. exploitation for economic development · America's growing importance on the international stage
Concluding exhibits explore how TR's presidency sought to address these challenges, and the degree to which these issues remain unsolved for Americans today. The inaugural site marks a unique intersection of local and national history, which still stands as a major turning point in our nation's history. The tour includes several audio presentations, a guided tour, and interactive exhibits. We will divide your class into groups of about 10 - 15 students per guide. Please be sure there is an adult chaperone for each group. Scheduling Instructions Recommended for: grades 4 and up. Program length: A tour of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site takes approximately one hour for up to 24, or up to two hours for 50. Tour size:from 10 to 50 maximum. Fee: $3.00 per student for organized school groups. Reservations: All group tours are by reservation only. Please call 716-884-0095 for reservations. Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Tour times: Tours can start as early as 9:15 weekdays or as early as 12:15 weekends. No tours can start after 3:30 PM. We recommend one chaperone for each 10 students. Details Grade Levels: Fourth grade and up Subject: Business, Civic Engagement, Civil Rights Movement, Commerce and Industry, Conservation, Constitutional Law, Environment, Government, History, Immigration, International Relations, Labor History, Leadership, Political Science, U.S. Presidents Keywords: Business, Civic Engagement, Civil Rights Movement, Commerce and Industry, Conservation, Constitutional Law, Environment, Government, History, Immigration, International Relations, Labor History, Leadership, Political Science, U.S. Presidents |
Last updated: February 26, 2015