Mere months after President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1919 death, memorials were planned at his home in Oyster Bay, New York and also Washington, D.C.

Interestingly, this 1919 article about the man refers to him more than once as “Colonel Roosevelt,” despite his having served as president. This implies the military title was considered the higher honor, especially in that patriotic environment immediately after World War I.

That’s almost impossible to imagine today — even if a general or similar military officer ever becomes president again, surely they would forever more be referred to as “President.”

The New York memorial Sagamore Hill officially dedicated in 1928, while the D.C. memorial became Teddy Roosevelt Island and was not dedicated until 1967. The latter is less than a mile from where I live, and is lovely to walk to, especially around this time of year.

Plans for a Roosevelt Memorial at Oyster Bay: Half Mile of Shore with Elms and Monumental Structures Would Become a Sort of National Grove of Academus

Published: Sunday, September 28, 1919