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porters, and Brazil’s most famous explorer, Candido Rondon. outside of the Amazon, and once again making a scientific contribution
Although not their original intended route down the Amazon, once in to the natural sciences and natural history museums.
South America Roosevelt set his sights instead of traversing the While Roosevelt would remember his time in the Amazon as one of
mysterious Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt), a wild and winding water- his greatest adventures, it was also his last. His time in the jungle had
way that had yet to be charted by Europeans. His friends and family taken its toll, and for the rest of his days he was plagued by a collection
expressed concern for his health and safety with his choice of Rio da of ailments he called his “old Brazilian trouble.” The venerable “Bull
Dúvida, to which Roosevelt replied: Moose” stayed active and even attempted to volunteer for World War
“... I have already lived and Roosevelt showing I, but he finally died in his sleep in 1919 at the age of 60.
enjoyed as much of life as any nine the route he would
other men I know; I have had my full take through the Legacy
share, and if it necessary for me to Amazon forrest. Theodore Roosevelt is remembered as many things: American
leave my bones in South America, I statesman, politician, conservationist, naturalist, writer, cowboy,
am quite prepared to do so.” adventurer, and of course the 26th president of the United States.
Cherrie, a seasoned adventurer, As President, Roosevelt set aside more federal land for national parks
had taken dozens of trips to Central and nature preserves than all of his predecessors combined. He established
and South America, collecting the United States Forest Service, signed into law the creation of five
specimens for major museums. On national parks, and signed the year 1906 Antiquities Act, under which he
his expedition with Roosevelt, he proclaimed 18 new national monuments.
kept a meticulous diary, today As a life-long Naturalist, Roosevelt’s expeditions to remote parts of the
housed at the American Museum of world, and what he collected and recorded along the way, introduced
Natural History. It gives a day-by- specimens and species never
day account of the daily struggles before seen outside of their
the improperly outfitted and ill- native countries. These items
prepared expedition party faced dur- were cataloged and studied by
ing their 1000-mile journey down scientists across the natural
the River of Doubt. Many in their traveling party perished along science disciplines and put on
the way. Roosevelt, himself, was lucky to have survived after he display to the awe and fascination
sliced his leg open on a rock and the wound became infected. Of of visitors flocking to the new
the 19 men who went on the expedition, 16 returned. One died by The National public natural history museums
accidental drowning in rapids (with his body never recovered), one Museum of Natural cropping up in cities across the
died by murder and was buried at the scene, and the murderer was History country in the early part of the
left behind in the jungle; presumably swiftly perishing there. 20th century. His contributions
Cherrie and a greatly weakened Roosevelt made it home to a hero’s in this manner helped advance our understanding of the natural sciences,
welcome in New York Harbor in May of 1914 with 3,000 specimens while his stories and love of nature and adventure continue to fascinate
collected along the way, introducing new species never before seen and inspire future generations of naturalist collectors.

Buying Vintage

T.R. and Buffalo-Related

Presidential Memorabilia

Explore the

Thoreau
Collection

at the

Concord

Museum

Henry Thoreau’s Desk
Concord, about 1838
painted pine, iron
Concord Museum Th10

Bren T. Price, Sr
27 Brookshire Ct • E Amherst, NY 14051
716-440-6865
bpricesr@aol.com www.concordmuseum.org
Trustee, Buffalo Presidential Center
www.buffalopresidentialcenter.org 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA

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