United States--Potomac River

President Roosevelt leans on his big stick with “On Hunting in Africa” strapped around his shoulders. He looks across the “Potomac” at the United States Capitol Building and “T. R.’s presidential” and “twilight zone” as the darkness of “March 4th” descends.

comments and context

Comments and Context

F. Victor Gillam, after leaving Judge magazine, a reorganized and Republican version of Puck magazine that was led by his older brother Bernhard, freelanced for a variety of newspapers. As a consistent Republican partisan with Judge — it was he who invented the iconic campaign symbol of the Full Dinner Pail to boast of Republican Prosperity — it is odd that his subsequent career was with Democratic or independent papers. This drawing, for instance, is more of an editorial cartoon, not a political cartoon attacking nor attempting to persuade, merely inviting readers to be as pensive as President Roosevelt, as the Administration’s days dwindled down to a precious few.

The National Park Service’s master plan for Theodore Roosevelt Island. The plans begins with an introduction outlining the history of the island and asserting its effectiveness as a memorial to Theodore Roosevelt. The plan continues with a purpose statement and a list of objectives which fall into three categories; recreation, interpretation and resource management. A breakdown of the regional characteristics of the surrounding area follows including a discussion of the Potomac River and park visitation. Next is a resource description and evaluation which serves to illustrate the importance of the natural features of the island for the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial. The park’s resources are broken down into categories including geology, vegetation, animal life, water resources and history and archeology. Management issues for each of these resources are discussed within each category. A discussion of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial contains a description of the memorial itself as well as recreational and interpretive guidelines to accommodate the island’s new national importance. Other management constrictions addressed include legal factors, preservation, soil erosion, vandalism, access and employment. A chart detailing the priority of needs, several maps and a general development plan conclude the masterplan.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1967-07-25

View depicting the industrial character of the Georgetown waterfront. Factory buildings and numerous smokestacks are visible lining the river.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1930

View of Georgetown Heights with the Alexandria Aqueduct Bridge in the background crossing the Potomac River. The Aqueduct Bridge is shown its first incarnation as a means of transporting canal boats from Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to the Alexandria Canal. Mason’s Island, later called Theodore Roosevelt Island, is seen in the distance.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1864

The Alexandria Aqueduct Bridge in its original incarnation as a means for transporting canal boats across the Potomac River between the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Alexandria Canal. The Chesapeake and Ohio is visible in the foreground while Mason’s Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island, can be seen in the distance.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1864

Civil War soldiers sit on the rocks of Mason’s Island, later called Theodore Roosevelt Island, watching a Georgetown ferry transport wagons and horses across the Potomac River. One man is fishing. The Alexandria Aqueduct Bridge is visible in the background in its second incarnation as a canal and roadway.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1864

Georgetown waterfront from the shore of Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

2006-06-07

Theodore Roosevelt Bridge from the southern tip of Theodore Roosevelt Island in spring.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

2005-03-14

The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from the shore of Theodore Roosevelt Island. To the left, a small footbridge is visible crossing the inlet on Theodore Roosevelt Island and the snow is blanketing the frozen Potomac River.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

2005-01-30

View of the Georgetown waterfront from the shores of Theodore Roosevelt Island. A plaque providing information on the Potomac River is visible in the foreground.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

2003-06-12

Theodore Roosevelt Island as seen from the south with the completed Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and footbridge. The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial is visible in the clearing of tress on the island and to the right the Kennedy Center sits on the shore of the Potomac River.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1967

Aerial view of Georgetown in Washington, D.C., stretching toward the Potomac River. Theodore Roosevelt Island with the completed Theodore Roosevelt Bridge appears in the distance.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1967-05-24

Aerial photograph showing the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial on Theodore Roosevelt Island. The memorial is surrounded by trees adhering to landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision and the riverside buildings of Foggy Bottom can be seen in the distance.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1965

View of Francis Scott Key Bridge from the shore of Theodore Roosevelt Island. The roofs of Georgetown University are visible on the right.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1955-09-28

Drawing of a proposed location for a bridge crossing the Potomac River. This bridge crosses directly over Theodore Roosevelt Island and connects with E Street in Washington, D.C.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1954

View of Theodore Roosevelt Island from the north. Washington, D.C., and Georgetown can be seen along the left shore. Rosslyn, Virginia, can be seen along the right shore. The Francis Scott Key Bridge with the remains of the Alexandria Aqueduct Bridge is visible in the foreground.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

Unknown

View of Theodore Roosevelt Island from the north. Arlington Memorial Bridge can be seen in the background.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1950-08-14

View of Theodore Roosevelt Island from the south. The George Washington Memorial Parkway is visible in the foreground.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1950-08-14

Map depicting the terrain of Theodore Roosevelt Island. Features of the Virginia shoreline are visible along the bottom of the map.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1932

Map showing the topography of Analostan Island, later called Theodore Roosevelt Island, and depth of the Potomac River.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1932