Natural by Design

Natural by Design. Theodore Roosevelt Island. , "The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value." , , Theodore Roosevelt, 1910, As a young man, Theodore Roosevelt realized that America's natural resources, dense forests, vast grasslands, mineral deposits, and watersheds, were being consumed by the growing nation. His work to provide federal protection for these resources influenced plans for this island landscape., In the 1930s renowned landscape designer Frederick, Law Olmsted, Jr. and Henry V. Hubbard planned a sanctuary for animals and native forest where no automobiles could interrupt the scene. Removal of nonnative vegetation and plantings of native hardwood trees resulted in the mature natural environment you see on Theodore Roosevelt Island today., [Captions:] , President Theodore Roosevelt inspired youngsters to appreciate America's resources. Theodore Roosevelt Island features planned trails through swamp, wooded, and upland environments designed to appear natural., First Peoples lived in this area centuries ago. Once known as "Analostan Island," this place provided fish, animals, and waterfowl for the Nacotchtank tribe until the early 1700s., Between 1717 and 1833 the Mason family of Virginia established a ferry business here and, later, a plantation. Their stately mansion became the centerpiece of what was then called "Mason's Island.", In 1935 Civilian Conservation Corps workers cleared nonnative vegetation and planted native hardwood trees according to plans developed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm.