The teddy bear has become an American cultural icon – as genuine a representation of childhood innocence as you’ll ever find. These plush stuffed animals bring familiarity and comfort to young children. They are crafted with care by individual artisans and mass-produced by huge toy conglomerates. But do you know how this national touchstone got its name?
Theodore Roosevelt, whose likeness appears on the granite slopes of Mount Rushmore alongside Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington, became known for many achievements during his presidential tenure. He was the main impetus behind the Panama Canal project, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and having a practically limitless effect on world trade. But he was also known as a conservationist who protected many of our national parks and forests from development and human habitation.