Restoring history at Teddy Roosevelt Museum House

Restoration work is underway on an iconic piece of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. 

Crews temporarily removed the most deteriorated column of the reek revival building on Delaware Avenue this morning. 

“Over the years water has seeped inside of them and has rotted away,” Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Executive Director, Stanton Hudson said. 

The single pillar will now be studied for construction details and restored. Experts will also study the wood to determine the date the six columns in front of the building were built. 

The large wooden pillars dating back to the mid to late 1800s. It’s unclear if they were built during the construction of the building or added later. 

This restoration project is one of several ahead of the museum’s 50th anniversary set for 2021. 

Since Teddy Roosevelt took the oath in 1901, the building has been home to a Buffalo Mayor and even a restaurant. It reopened as a national park museum in 1971. 

“It isn’t your grandfather’s historic house museum. It’s fun. It’s alive,” Hudson said. 

Hudson said painting and other work will be done on the museum ahead of the big 50th year celebration. The Columns are expected to be restored and replaced sometime in 2019.