Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
Why it's listed
This is a reconstruction of the four-story brownstone on East 20th Street in Manhattan where Theodore Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858. The family lived there until 1873. Later the house was altered for commercial uses and ended up as a two-story brick building. In 1919 the Women's Roosevelt Memorial Association bought the site and rebuilt the home as the Roosevelt family had known it. Architect Theodate Pope based her plans on the neighboring house of Robert Roosevelt, Theodore's uncle. Half of the building replicates the original home, and the other half serves as a museum and library. The drawing room, the front bedroom where he was born, and the nursery have been restored to the period of his boyhood. The nursery opens onto the porch where his father installed a gymnasium to help the asthmatic boy. The property is recognized for commemorating the formative years of the man who became the 26th President.
Significance in brief: The site commemorates the boyhood of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President, who lived here until 1873. The nomination argues that his formative years here, including childhood illness, exercise on the nursery porch, and a love of nature and books, shaped the man he became. The 1858-1873 period and his presidency (1901-09) are cited.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000054, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 28 E. 20th St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000054 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1858-1873, 1901-09 |
| Architect / builder | Theodate Pope (Mrs. John Wallace Riddle), architect of the reconstruction |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, a total reconstruction, unoccupied, used as a museum and park open to the public. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.73852, -73.98888 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000054.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q904191
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.