Sunday, September 11, 2011

ATLANTApix: The Original Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear at Bulloch Hall
Teddy Bear at Bulloch Hall
The creation of the Teddy Bear was inspired by an act of compassion by President Theodore Roosevelt

In 1902, the President traveled to Mississippi for a hunt where a small bear had been captured. When he arrived, he refused to shoot the bear. A famous cartoonist published a depiction of the incident in the Washington Post.

As the story goes, Morris and Rose Michtom, novelty store owners in Brooklyn, New York, were so impressed with the President's act of compassion that they created a stuffed bear to sell in their shop and wrote to ask the President for permission to call the creation "Teddy's Bear." 

The President responded in the affirmative and the Teddy Bear has been enjoyed by countless children and Teddy Bear enthusiasts since.

An early original Teddy Bear is today part of the Smithsonian Institution's collection. This replica (photo) resides in Bulloch Hall, the childhood home of Mittie Bulloch, mother of Teddy Roosevelt. Bulloch Hall is in Roswell, Georgia, just northwest of Atlanta.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

No comments: