Teddy
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
-Theodore Roosevelt
It’s President’s Day. You might know that the holiday was originally established in 1885 in recognition of George Washington’s birthday, but in 1971 the date was moved – part of a movement to create more three-day weekends for the nation's workers. So yay!
No offense to Washington, but my favorite president is Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president who served from 1901-1909 – the youngest man to assume the presidency, at 42 years old. A sportsman, and an adventurer, as well as a gentleman and a politician, the man lived a unique and storied life. Check out his Wikipedia page at the very least while you’re kicking back today.
During his presidency, our intrepid outdoorsman TR prioritized conservation and established national parks, forests, and monuments to preserve the nation's natural resources. Often called a “force of nature” due to his energetic personality, he helped lay the foundation to protect wilderness and wildlife that shaped American land and culture. As president, Roosevelt created five national parks, 18 national monuments, 51 bird sanctuaries, began the National Wildlife Refuge system and set aside more than 100 million acres for national forests. (Shoutout to Abraham Lincoln for the Yosemite Land Grant, though – a spectacular place.)
Enjoy the day off if you’ve got it, spend some time outdoors if you can, and raise your glass to the president of your choice.
__
P.S. If you’re into the National Parks, check out Harry Yount, Yellowstone’s first and only gamekeeper in 1880. He lived alone in Yellowstone, and wrote His articulate and insightful 1880 "Report of Gamekeeper" documents his travels through the Park and his general observations on wildlife and the inability of one person to adequately protect the park's resources.
P.P.S. If you’re into the National Parks and board games, Parks and Trekking the National Parks are both worth a look.