Freed of the restraints of public office, Roosevelt amped up his recriminations against despoilers, finding solace in the world’s deepest dark forests. Swollen with courage, he created the Bull Moose Party in 1912, in part to defend his Alaskan forest reserves from exploitation. Even as his sunlight dimmed, he held firm to his visionary stances on wildlife protection and sustainable land management. He saw the planet as one single biological organism pulsing with life and championed the interconnectedness of nature as his own Sermon on the Mount. As forces of globalization run amok, Roosevelt’s stout resoluteness to protect our environment is a strong reminder of our national wilderness heritage, as well as an increasingly urgent call to arms.
Roosevelt’s greatest White House accomplishment was encouraging young people to join the wildlife and forestry protection movements. Here, the cowboy conservationist reaches out to a Colorado girl.
T.R. inspired children to join the conservation movement. (Courtesy of Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library)
Maps
APPENDIX
This list was compiled from the Establishment and Modification of National Forest Boundaries: A Chronological Record (1891–1973); the annual reports of the Division of Forestry (1886–1901); Bureau of Forestry (1902–1903); U.S. Geological Survey’s Annual Reports (1897–1900); and my own additions.
NATIONAL FORESTS CREATED OR ENLARGED BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT, 1901–1909
1. Luquillo (Puerto Rico), renamed El Yunque
National Forest in 2006
January 17, 1903
2. White River (Colorado)
May 21, 1904
3. Sevier (Utah)
January 17, 1906
4. Wichita (Oklahoma)
May 29, 1906
5. Lolo (Montana)
November 6, 1906
6. Caribou (Idaho and Wyoming)
January 15, 1907
7. Colville (Washington)
March 1, 1907
8. Las Animas (Colorado and New Mexico)
March 1, 1907
9. Wenada (Oregon and Washington)
March 1, 1907
10. Olympic (Washington)
March 2, 1907
11. Manti (Utah)
April 25, 1907
12. Manzano (New Mexico)
April 16, 1908
13. Kansas (Kansas)
May 15, 1908
14. Minnesota (Minnesota)
May 23, 1908
15. Pocatello (Idaho and Utah)
July 1, 1908
16. Cache (Idaho and Utah)
July 1, 1908
17. Whitman (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
18. Malheur (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
19. Umatilla (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
20. Columbia (Washington)
July 1, 1908
21. Rainier (Washington)
July 1, 1908
22. Washington (Washington)
July 1, 1908
23. Chelan (Washington)
July 1, 1908
24. Snoqualmie (Washington)
July 1, 1908
25. Wenatchee (Washington)
July 1, 1908
26. Fillmore (Utah)
July 1, 1908
27. Nebo (Utah)
July 1, 1908
28. Lewis and Clark (Montana)
July 1, 1908
29. Blackfeet (Montana)
July 1, 1908
30. Flathead (Montana)
July 1, 1908
31. Kootenai (Montana)
July 1, 1908
32. Routt (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
33. Cabinet (Montana)
July 1, 1908
34. Hayden (Colorado and Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
35. Challis (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
36. Salmon (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
37. Clearwater (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
38. Coeur d’Alene (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
39. Pend d’Orielle (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
40. Kaniksu (Idaho and Washington)
July 1, 1908
41. Angeles (California)
July 1, 1908
42. San Luis (California)
July 1, 1908
43. Jemez (New Mexico)
July 1, 1908
44. Sundance (Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
45. Santa Barbara (California)
July 1, 1908
46. Weiser (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
47. Nez Perce (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
48. Idaho (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
49. Payette (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
50. Boise (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
51. Sawtooth (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
52. Lemhi (Idaho)
July 1, 1908
53. Siuslaw (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
54. Cheyenne (Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
55. Medicine Bow (Colorado), enlarged and
renamed Roosevelt National Forest in 1932 as
an honor to T.R.
July 1, 1908
56. Cascade (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
57. Oregon (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
58. Umpqua (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
59. Siskiyou (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
60. Crater (California and Oregon)
July 1, 1908
61. Beartooth (Montana)
July 1, 1908
62. Holy Cross, Colorado
July 1, 1908
63. Targhee (Idaho and Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
64. Teton (Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
65. Wyoming (Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
66. Bonneville (Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
67. Absaroka (Montana)
July 1, 1908
68. Beaverhead (Montana)
July 1, 1908
69. Madison (Montana)
July 1, 1908
70. Gallatin (Montana)
July 1, 1908
71. Deerlodge (Montana)
July 1, 1908
72. Helena (Montana)
July 1, 1908
73. Missoula (Montana)
July 1, 1908
74. Bitterroot (Idaho and Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
75. Ashley (Utah and Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
76. Uncompahgre (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
77. San Juan (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
78. Rio Grande (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
79. Pike (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
80. Montezuma (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
81. Leadville (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
82. Gunnison (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
83. Cochetopa (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
84. Arapaho (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
85. Battlement (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
86. Shoshone (Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
87. Uinta (Utah)
July 1, 1908
88. Crook (Arizona)
July 1, 1908
89. Coconino (Arizona)
July 1, 1908
90. Inyo (California)
July 1, 1908
91. Stanislaus (California)
July 1, 1908
92. Sierra (California)
July 1, 1908
93. Chiricahua (Arizona and New Mexico)
July 1, 1908
94. Coronado (Arizona)
July 1, 1908
95. Garces (Arizona)
July 1, 1908
96. Montere
y (California)
July 1, 1908
97. San Isabel (Colorado)
July 1, 1908
98. Minidoka (Idaho and Utah)
July 1, 1908
99. Jefferson (Montana)
July 1, 1908
100. Custer (Montana)
July 1, 1908
101. Nebraska (Nebraska)
July 1, 1908
102. Wallowa (Oregon)
July 1, 1908
103. Fishlake (Utah)
July 1, 1908
104. La Salle (Utah)
July 1, 1908
105. Wasatch (Utah)
July 1, 1908
106. Powell (Utah)
July 1, 1908
107. Bighorn (Wyoming)
July 1, 1908
108. Kaibab (Arizona)
July 1, 1908
109. Deschutes (Oregon)
July 14, 1908
110. Fremont (Oregon)
July 14, 1908
111. Ocala (Florida)
November 24, 1908
112. Dakota (North Dakota)
November 24, 1908
113. Choctawhatchee (Florida)
November 27, 1908
114. Humboldt (Nevada)
January 20, 1909
115. Moapa (Nevada)
January 21, 1909
116. Cleveland (California)
January 26, 1909
117. Pecos (New Mexico)
January 28, 1909
118. Prescott (Arizona)
February 1, 1909
119. Calaveras Bigtree (California)
February 8, 1909
120. Tonto (Arizona)
February 10, 1909
121. Marquette (Michigan)
February 10, 1909
122. Nevada (Nevada)
February 10, 1909
123. Dixie (Arizona and Utah)
February 10, 1909
124. Michigan (Michigan)
February 11, 1909
125. Klamath (California and Oregon)
February 13, 1909
126. Superior (Minnesota)
February 13, 1909
127. Gila (New Mexico)
February 15, 1909
128. Black Hills (South Dakota and Wyoming)
February 15, 1909
129. Sioux (Montana and South Dakota)
February 15, 1909
130. Tongass (Alaska)
February 16, 1909
131. Toiyabe (Nevada)
February 20, 1909
132. Datil (New Mexico)
February 23, 1909
133. Chugach (Alaska)
February 23, 1909
134. Modoc (California)
February 25, 1909
135. Ozark (Arkansas)
February 25, 1909
136. California (California)
February 25, 1909
137. Arkansas (Arkansas)
February 27, 1909
138. Mono (California and Nevada)
March 2, 1909
139. Sitgreaves (Arizona)
March 2, 1909
140. Lincoln (New Mexico)
March 2, 1909
141. Shasta (California)
March 2, 1909
142. Alamo (New Mexico)
March 2, 1909
143. Carson (New Mexico)
March 2, 1909
144. Zuni (Arizona and New Mexico)
March 2, 1909
145. Trinity (California)
March 2, 1909
146. Apache (Arizona)
March 2, 1909
147. Lassen (California)
March 2, 1909
148. Plumas (California)
March 2, 1909
149. Tahoe (California)
March 2, 1909
150. Sequoia (California)
March 2, 1909
FEDERAL BIRD RESERVATIONS CREATED BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT, AND ADMITTED BY THE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, USDA
Most of Roosevelt’s bird reserves are now part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s National Wildlife Refuge System (NWR) 1901–1909. Special thanks to William Reffalt, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife volunteer for helping compile this list.
Name of Bird Reservation
Date
Status
1. Pelican Island (Florida)
March 14, 1903
NWR
enlarged
January 26, 1909
2. Breton Island (Louisiana)
October 4, 1904
NWR
3. Stump Lake (North Dakota)
March 9, 1905
NWR
4. Siskiwit Islands (Michigan)
October 10, 1905
Natl. Park
5. Huron Islands (Michigan)
October 10, 1905
NWR
6. Passage Key (Florida)
October 10, 1905
NWR
7. Indian Key (Florida)
February 10, 1906
No. Fed. Land
8. Tern Islands (Louisiana)
August 8, 1907
No. Fed. Land
9. Shell Keys (Louisiana)
August 17, 1907
NWR
10. Three Arch Rocks (Oregon)
October 14, 1907
NWR
11. Flattery Rocks (Washington)
October 23, 1907
NWR
12. Copalis Rock (Washington)
October 23, 1907
NWR
13. Quillayute Needles (Washington)
October 23, 1907
NWR
14. East Timbalier Island (Louisiana)
December 7, 1907
No. Fed. Land
15. Mosquito Inlet (Florida)
February 24, 1908
No. Fed. Land
16. Tortugas Keys (Florida)
April 6, 1908
Nat’l. Park
17. Key West (Florida)
August 8, 1908
NWR
18. Klamath Lake (Oregon and California)
August 8, 1908
NWR
19. Lake Malheur (Oregon)
August 18, 1908
NWR
20. Chase Lake (North Dakota)
August 28, 1908
NWR
21. Pine Island (Florida)
September 15, 1908
NWR
22. Matlacha Pass (Florida)
September 26, 1908
NWR
23. Palma Sole (Florida)
September 26, 1908
No. Fed. Land
24. Island Bay (Florida)
October 23, 1908
NWR
25. Loch Katrine (Wyoming)
October 26, 1908
No Fed. Land
26. Hawaiian Islands
February 3, 1909
NWR
27. Salt River (Arizona)
February 25, 1909
Bur. Reel.
28. East Park (California)
February 25, 1909
Impt. Reel.
29. Deer Flat (Idaho)
February 25, 1909
NWR
30. Willow Creek (Montana)
February 25, 1909
Other NWR
31. Carlsbad (New Mexico)
February 25, 1909
Bur. Reel.
32. Rio Grande (New Mexico)
February 25, 1909
Bur. Recl.
The Wilderness Warrior Page 110