Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, lived at this site from his birth on October 27, 1858 until he was 14 years old. The reconstructed house, built as a memorial after his death in 1919, contains five period rooms, two museum galleries and a small bookstore.

Roosevelt started his political career as a New York State Assemblyman from 1882-1884. From 1889 to 1895 he was a member of the United States Civil Service Commission. After two years as President of the New York Board of Police he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1897-1898.