Courtesy Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
After more than three years of meticulous planning, The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation, working in conjunction with the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation, recently completed the creation and installation of a sculptural portrait commemorating Theodore Roosevelt’s swearing in ceremony at the Ansley Wilcox House on September 14, 1901. Located in the southwest quadrant of the site at 641 Delaware Avenue, the 7 ½ foot bronze-cast figure depicts one of the United States’ most consequential leaders, who ushered in the modern American presidency with his inauguration in Buffalo.
The statue, formally dedicated on October 27, 2015—Roosevelt’s birth date—portrays him as he appeared when he ascended to the presidency. He was a resolute, progressive 42-year-old, concerned with a multitude of issues confronting the country at the time, including immigration and urban poverty, race and social inequities, conservation, big business and labor, and the U.S. role in global affairs.
The location of the statue neither encroaches upon any other pre-existing work nor is it esthetically intrusive. In fact, it has been placed on land that was acquired in 2012 following the donation of a former Bank of America branch facility to the TR Site Foundation. With the subsequent removal of the 1960s-era bank building that had, itself, intruded upon the historic resource, the property was restored to its original 1901 configuration. It now provides a major new artwork to one of Buffalo’s most significant and highly traveled thoroughfares.
Sculptor Antonio Tobias (Toby) Mendez was selected by a TR Memorial Committee, comprised of members drawn from both collaborating foundations, the National Park Service, the Buffalo arts community and the Roosevelt family to sculpt the portrait figure. He is a nationally-prominent sculptor who has created a significant body of monumental works during the past 25 years. These include his depiction of Thurgood Marshall at the Maryland State House, Chief Noonday in Grand Rapids, MI, Marshall “Major” Taylor in Worcester, MA, and 11 figures of notable baseball players for the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox; works that are sited at their respective stadiums.
The TR Inaugural Site Foundation (TRISF) has managed the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site since its inception in 1966, through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service. The TRISF preserves the historic property where Theodore Roosevelt because the 26th President of the United States following the assassination of William McKinley. The Site provides opportunities for visitors to understand the historical events surrounding the inauguration, as well as the lasting significance of Roosevelt’s life and presidency.
Founded in 1981, the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation (BRF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to moving the City of Buffalo forward, and helping future generations of its citizens realize the best opportunities to enjoy a high quality of life in Western New York. The goal of the BRF’s Downtown Buffalo Sculptural Art Initiative is to place five works of art throughout the city’s downtown in an effort to contribute to Buffalo’s growth as a cultural tourism destination, and to inform citizens and visitors about the city’s rich historical traditions and potential. The TR sculpture, entitled “The Spirit of Leadership,” is the BRF’s third sculptural work.
