Today is “National American Teddy Bear Day”

November 14th marks “National American Teddy Bear Day.”  The history of the Teddy Bear is based on a President Teddy Roosevelt’s cancelled bear hunt. 

According to theodoreroosevelt.org, “Nearly 100 years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt, went on a bear hunt. He enjoyed nature and being out in the woods where animals lived. Because he was the President of the United States, the people organizing the hunt wanted to make sure the hunt was successful.

But after 3 days of walking and climbing and riding, no bears were found. Now what? The President's bear hunt would be a failure! 

The next day the hunt guide and his hunting dogs finally found an old bear. The dogs and guide followed the bear for quite a distance until the bear was very, very tired. The dogs attacked and injured the old bear. The guides tied the bear to a tree and called for the President. Here was a bear for him to shoot!

President Roosevelt looked at the poor old bear and said "no!" No one would shoot this old bear for sport. That would not be right. However, the bear was injured and suffering. President Roosevelt ordered that the bear be put down to end its pain.”

After this event famous political cartoonist, Clifford Berryman created an art to reflect this bear hunt.  Furthermore, a shopkeeper, Morris Michtom received approved from the President to make a small bear to symbolize this event as well.

There are Teddy Bear Museums, specialty shops throughout the world, most notably, the:

Teddy Bear World Hawaii

The Teddy Bear Museum - Stratford Upon Avon

Vermont Teddy Bear Company

In the Tredyffrin-Easttown Patch area there are plenty of stores that sell Teddy Bears. Leave a comment regarding the best places to buy a teddy bear. I would love to do a feature story on a toy store.