EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM 

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

George Washington Memorial Parkway

District of Columbia/ Maryland/ Virginia

Theodore Roosevelt Island
Here’s how:

To receive your Junior Ranger badge, finish the booklet and mail it 

to:

National Park Service

700 George Washington Memorial Parkway

Turkey Run Park

McLean, VA 22101-1717

Rules:

If you are 5 or 6 do three of the activities.

If you are 7 or 8 do five of the activities.

If you are 9 or 10 do seven of the activities. 

If you are 11 or older complete the whole book. 

Safety:

Keep pets on leashes Stay on the path 

Do not feed the animals Do not pick the plants 

U.S. Park Police at 202-610-7500 Do not bike on the island

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“The time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests 

are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil and the gas are exhausted, when the 

soils...have been washed into the streams polluting our rivers....” 

 -Theodore Roosevelt
If you could design a monument, 

what would it look like?

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Lincoln Memorial 

Washington Monument Statue of Liberty

U.S. Marine Corps 

War Memorial

Welcome to the Island

Theodore Roosevelt Island is a memorial, intended to preserve 

the memory of the 26th president of the United States. On the 

island, there is a monument to Theodore Roosevelt. This statue 

shows him giving one of his speeches, and the pillars behind the 

statue contain some of his best-known quotes.
Open Your Eyes

There is a lot to see on Theodore Roosevelt Island. Keep 

your eyes open for these sites. If you see something that 

looks like one of the pictures, check it off. If you can’t 

find them all, don’t worry- the animals and sites change 

throughout the year!

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How the Island was Named

The island was first used as a seasonal hunting and fishing site by 

the Neocostin American Indians and called ‘Analostan’. The island 

has had many other names through the years including “My Lord’s 

Island” in 1632, “Barbados” in 1680, “Mason’s Island” in 1717 and, 

finally its modern title of “Theodore Roosevelt Island” in 1933.

Take a Hike

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If you had an 

island, what would 

you name it?

What do you hear?

What do you smell?

What do you see?

How does the place 

make you feel? 
The Mason Family: 1717-1833 

John Mason, son of George Mason IV, the Revolutionary 

Patriot, turned the island into a functional plantation and rural 

estate with a mansion. The island was completely replanted with 

crops and rose gardens. There was a ferry house on the island as 

well, so that individuals could cross the Potomac with livestock 

and other goods. 

Matching Up!

By looking at this map of 

the Mason estate can you 

identify where today’s

landmarks are?

1. The Statue?

2. The Marsh?

3. The Bathrooms?

4. The Causeway Wayside?

5. The Foot Bridge?

Write the number of the 

item next to where you 

think it is on the map. 

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Image: “Mason’s Island 1818”
The Civil War

During the Civil War (1861-1864), the island served as a training area 

for the Union Army, including the First U.S. Colored Troops, an 

African American regiment composed of free blacks, escaped 

slaves and white officers.The Union Army operated a ferry and 

pontoon bridge from the north end of the island to Georgetown. 

From May 1864- June 1865, a freedmen’s refugee camp occupied 

much of the island, including the Mason mansion.

Then and Now: Instead of differences, can you spot 4 

things that are the same in these two photos taken over a hundred 

years apart?

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Guards at ferry landing on Mason’s 

Island during the Civil War.

The view today.

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First U.S. Colored Troops
Little Known Facts:

1. During the War of 1812, when the White House burned, the Mason 

Ferry was used to evacuate people from Georgetown to Virginia. 

President Madison used Mason’s Ferry to escape from the invading 

British.

2. Among the famous people to come to Theodore Roosevelt 

Island were the escaped slave Sojourner Truth and the poet Walt 

Whitman. Both visited the island during the Civil War.

3. In 1890, a new world record for the 100-yard dash was set on the 

island with a time of 9 and 4/5 seconds. The crouching start to races 

was also first used on the island.

4. In 1898, the island became an explosives test range for 

dynamite during the Spanish American war.

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Finish Roosevelt’s Quotes

Directions: Go to the monument and find the nature tablet. Fill in 

the blanks with the words you see.

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Bird Search

There are many native birds 

on the island. In honor of 

Theodore Roosevelt’s love 

of wildlife, try to find the 

bird names within this word 

search.

Bald Eagle

Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

 Ring-billed Gull

Woodpecker

 Blue Jay

Carolina Chickadee 

American Robin

Northern 

Mockingbird

Common Yellowthroat

Theodore Roosevelt

The Early Years

Born on October 27th, 1858 in New York City, Theodore 

Roosevelt overcame the health challenges of asthma and poor 

eyesight and focused his attention on the outdoor world. He 

enjoyed collecting live animals and hunting “specimens” to study. 

As a youngster, he established his own natural history museum 

with items gathered from his neighborhood and family travels. 

By the time of his presidency, he was a well-known naturalist and 

outdoorsman. This background prepared him for many of the 

challenges of his administration. 
The “Teddy Bear”

One of the United States’ favorite toys is named for Theodore 

Roosevelt. The ‘Teddy’ Bear was named for Roosevelt after one of 

his many hunting trips. On the excursion, one of his helpers had 

caught and tied up a bear for him to shoot. Teddy, feeling that it 

was unsportsmanlike, refused to shoot the defenseless animal. 

This incident was popularized in newspapers and the idea of the 

“Teddy Bear” was born.

Color the Picture

10 Cartoon by Clifford Berry 
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Making Connections

Theodore Roosevelt conserved millions of acres of public 

lands. Match the name of the park to the area he preserved.

 1. Petrified Forest, Arizona 

2. Devils Tower, Wyoming 

3. Grand Canyon, Arizona

4.Yosemite, California

5. Montezuma Castle, Arizona
Roosevelt’s Presidency

Theodore Roosevelt came into the presidency after William McKinley 

died. He was re-elected at the end of his term and held the title of 26th 

president. Under Roosevelt’s leadership the federal government 

expanded its role in conserving our nation’s resources and changed 

the public’s perception that America’s natural resources were

 inexhaustible.

One of his most lasting legacies was his significant role in the creation 

of 150 National Forests, 5 National Parks, 51 Federal Bird Preserves 

and 18 National Monuments. In total, Roosevelt was instrumental in 

the conservation of approximately 230 million acres among various 

parks and other federal projects.

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Think Big

Can you imagine a tree so big 

that adults would look small 

next to it? These trees still 

exist today because of 

Theodore Roosevelt’s actions 

against logging companies. 

Thanks to his work, many 

natural wonders have been 

preserved. Here is Theodore 

Roosevelt with the 

naturalist John Muir in 

Yosemite in 1903.
The National Park Foundation 

supports the Junior Ranger 

program as part of their 

nationwide effort to connect 

children to America’s heritage and 

ensure the future of our national 

parks. 

Become a webranger at:

www.nps.gov/webrangers

Images: All images are from the photographer Peritore or 

from the public domain.

Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir. 1903, Yosemite, CA. 

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This is to certify that

has completed the requirements to be a

Junior Ranger 

on

Theodore Roosevelt Island

As a junior Ranger, I pledge to explore the 

wonders of the national parks, learn about 

the world around me, and protect the natural 

and cultural resources of the National Park 

System for the enjoyment and inspiration of 

this and future generations. 

Ranger Signature Date