Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace: Tour the brownstone where the 26th president’s life began

The brownstone located at 28 E. 20th St. doesn’t appear to be much different from other NYC brownstones upon first glance. But this three-story home in Manhattan’s Flatiron District is chock-full of anecdotes and fun facts about the early life of the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

Roosevelt was the only president to claim NYC as his birthplace. While the home itself has been restored, the physical location has remained the same.

Young Teddy’s life started on Oct. 27, 1858, when his mother, Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt, gave birth to the 8 pound, 8 ounce baby at 7:35 p.m.

We recently took a tour of Teddy Roosevelt’s birthplace, a National Park Service site. His childhood home is free to tour Tuesdays through Saturdays, on the hour beginning at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a noon break.

Tours are given on a first-come, first-served basis and are kept to 18 visitors per group. Guests are allowed within the rooms of the home, making for an intimate learning experience.

In honor of Roosevelt’s upcoming 158th birthday, the park service is hosting a free celebration on Oct. 29, when 20th Street will be closed.

For more information on guided tours at Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace, visit www.nps.gov/thrb.

Before you go, take a peek inside the home where Roosevelt’s life began. We learned the following from tour guide Daniel Prebutt.