March 14, 1904 – March 14, 1904

President Roosevelt Establishes Pelican Island Bird Refuge

President Roosevelt was an avid environmentalist and lover of birds(his first published work being, "The Birds of the Adirondacks in Franklin County" in 1877). As such, when he learned about the destruction of them in Florida for Plume Feathers, he would create Pelican Island; the first bird sanctuary in the United States. This way Birds would have a place to nest and raise their young without threat of being killed.

Washington D.C and Florida, USA

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

Sebastian Czechowski