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Teddy's exercise equipment
When Roosevelt was a young boy he had pretty severe asthma which was a hindrance to him. As Teddy entered his adolescence he decided to take control and change his routine and habits. He picked up many physical activities such as; swimming, gymnastics, and even boxing. This physical change also likely had an impact on his mentality and urged him to push forward. This change Theodore made as a teen definitely benefited him when he served in the military. All of this helped define him as a man. -
Gatling Gun
One of Theodore's greatest success stories was the victory over the Spanish in the Spanish-American war. The Spanish were oppressive to the Cubans and Filipinos. Teddy had a group of volunteer soldiers known as the rough riders, one of the reasons for their success was the Gatling Gun. This gun is a man-powered weapon that is operated by a hand crank, and is able to fire several hundred rounds per minute. Needless to say, this is one of the most important pieces of weaponry in modern history. -
Teddy's Bloody Shirt
After Roosevelt's presidency, he began campaigning for a second run. In 1912 as he was giving a speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, John Schrank attempted to assassinate him. Teddy was hit in the side, and wounded. Despite this, Roosevelt continued to give his speech for up to an hour. In this exhibit, you will see the shirt Theodore Roosevelt was wearing during the speech. Teddy was already admired by many, but this specific event only made more admire him as it testified to the type of man he was.