The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site preserves the Victorian-era home that was the backdrop for a major event in American History. On a visit to the Pan-American Exposition in September 1901, President William McKinley was shot by an anarchist resulting in his death eight days later to gangrene. As vice president, Theodore Roosevelt was rushed to Buffalo to take the position of president. At his friend Ansley Wilcox’s home, Roosevelt took the oath of office on September 14, 1901. Interestingly, the actual inaugural event was not captured since Roosevelt ordered photographers out of the room due to the number of people in the room. The inaugural site, today, acts as a time capsule of that very day, Artifacts associated with the inauguration as well as momentums from the Pan-American Exposition are on display. These historic findings include playing cards and the key to the Temple of Music where President McKinley was shot. The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site is the only National Parks Service site in Western New York.
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