The Original Teddy Bear

According to a famous story, a Louisiana Black Bear inspired the first “teddy bear.” In 1902, President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was hunting in Louisiana and Mississippi. The hunt went on for days without success, and by the last day Roosevelt had still not bagged a bear. His hosts, anxious to send the President home with a trophy, captured a Louisiana Black Bear for him to shoot. Outraged by the lack of sportsmanship, Roosevelt refused to fire on the animal. Shortly thereafter, an editorial cartoon by Clifford Berryman depicted the incident and portrayed the bear as a cuddly cub. A Brooklyn store owner, inspired by the public fascination with the incident, asked for and received permission from the White House to sell his stuffed toy bears as “Teddy Bears,” named after the President. The plush, lovable bears were a hit, and a staple of American culture was born.

New Orleans, Louisiana · United States