Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace

When thinking about presidential birthplaces, the image of a rural log cabin probably comes to mind more readily than a Manhattan town house. However, Theodore Roosevelt, in fact, hails from New York City, and his family's brownstone—where, as an ailing boy, Teddy lived a decidedly unglamorous Manhattan childhood—is open to the public for free guided tours. (Well, an approximation of his brownstone, anyway—this re-creation was built a few years after the original was torn down.) History buffs should arrive early to explore the ground-floor gallery prior to their tour, but, if the momentous artifacts inside—like the 50-page speech that saved Roosevelt from an assassination attempt or a rare photograph signed by Abraham Lincoln—cause you to miss it, another tour will start in an hour (the last one leaves at 4pm). When visiting the house's period rooms, be sure to ask your guide about the master-bedroom furniture set, which was purchased for an extravagant $3,000 in 1865. Music lovers won't want to miss the home's free monthly classical concert series.