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Visit a section of river between Rock Creek and Alexandria...
Rock Creek
Aqueduct Bridge Site
Roosevelt Island
Arlington National Cemetery
Anacostia River
Alexandria, Va.
Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant |
Roosevelt Island is a unique wilderness park between Georgetown, on one side of the river, and the booming Rosslyn section of Arlington, Virginia, on the other. Roosevelt Island is maintained by the National Park Service; a monument to President Theodore Roosevelt is in the center of the island, accessible only by hiking in.
Slightly more than 88 acres, the wild little island is refuge for birds, rabbits, squirrels, muskrats, turtles, and opossums. Red and gray fox have even been reported here. A tidal freshwater marsh on the southeast side of the island provides habitat for wood duck, woodpeckers, and many other species of birds. Woodland includes sycamore, oak, hickory, elm, dogwood, and ash.
Roosevelt's memorial is appropriately one of the few wild spaces in the City of Washington. Roosevelt became president at a time when the land, wildlife, and water resources of the nation had been exploited on a large scale for more than 100 years. Nearly 80 percent of the forests had been leveled; the land was becoming exhausted; siltation and pollution inundated rivers. Many species of wildlife were facing extinction.
Under Teddy Roosevelt, the federal government became the protector of public resources. During his administration, some 234 million acres were set aside for conservation. The Forest Service was created; five national parks were added to the system; many other endangered reserves and landmarks were saved.
Roosevelt Island was known as Analostan Island from the mid-1600s until the 1700s, when George Mason's ownership turned it into "Mason's Island." One of his descendants built a mansion on the island and established a farm. Later owners turned it into a boat club.
In 1931, the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association purchased the island with the purpose of presenting a gift to the federal government. The island was turned over to the Interior Department in 1932. Construction of a memorial was approved in 1960, and began in 1963. In 1967, the memorial was dedicated.
Roosevelt Island is managed as a natural area. The formal memorial—not visible from outside the island—is surrounded by woodlands. A 17-foot bronze statue of Teddy Roosevelt stands overlooking a moat, a terrace, and trails to the swamp, marsh, and forest on the island.
A companion island to Roosevelt Island, called Little Island, is adjacent downstream. Both are administered by the National Park Service, which has marked 2.5 miles of trails around Roosevelt Island.
A particularly rewarding trip is by canoe around the islands, although there is no canoe rental location on the island itself.
Theodore Roosevelt Island, National Park Service, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey Run Park, McLean, VA. 22101. Telephone: 703-289-2530.
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