
Wilcox House - Buffalo, NY
Posted by:
Rayman
N 42° 54.099 W 078° 52.384
17T E 673642 N 4752087
The Wilcox House was the site of the Theodore Roosevelt presidential inauguration in 1901.
Waymark Code: WM1HFN
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 05/11/2007
Views: 57
The following is an excerpt from
New York: A Guide to the Empire State in the "Buffalo Points of Interest" section.
The WILCOX HOUSE, 641 Delaware Ave., is a gray-painted brick building with a pedimented portico and six Roman Doric columns, characteristic of the Classical Revival style. In this house, on September 14, 1901, upon the death of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt took the oath as President of the United States.
In 1837, the federal government established an Army post on this site to protect the city from potential attacks. Built between 1838-40, the Buffalo Barracks was the largest US military installation at the time. At its height, the barracks housed over 600 men as well as several wives and children. The house was originally built as officers' quarters.
The Army barracks were moved to nearby Fort Porter, and most of the buildings were dismantled. This house remained and was turned into a private residence, which was purchased in 1878 by Dexter Rumsey. Rumsey gave the house to his daughter as a wedding present, who married Ansley Wilcox. Roosevelt was a close friend of Wilcox, who also was a frequent guest of the house.