Sagamore Hill: Theodore Roosevelt (TR)

Today as we were free, we took the opportunity to visit Sagamore Hill National Historic site. The Sagamore Hill is in Oyster Bay, New York and about 18 miles from our residence. The location is very near to the beach (Atlantic Ocean) and is a great location.

The official website describes: “Sagamore Hill was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, from 1885 until his death in 1919. From 1902 to 1908 his “Summer White House” in Oyster Bay, New York was the focus of international attention..”

The house was built at that time at an approximate cost of 17,000 US dollars (which the guide told us would amount to 5 millions dollars in today’s era!!). The house has 23 rooms so as to accomodate his big family ( he had 6 kids). “Infact Sagamore Hill is a rambling 23- room Victorian structure of wood frame and brick”. Most of the furnishings are original pieces and very little has changed since then. It may be noted that Roosevelt had inherited great wealth and belonged to an aristocratic Dutch family.

There is a nearby museum which displays the exhibits on the this great President. It becomes abundantly clear that TR was a man of courage, vision, and liberty. He was an avid reader and infact had stated that books are the ammunition for the body. He wrote many books and contributed numerous articles. After his 2 terms of Presidency, he went to Africa and Eurpoe and thoroughly enjoyed as a voyager. After returning, he actually decided to contest for the 3rd term and when denied the Republican nomination, he formed a separate party, but lost the elections.
He died at Sagamore on January 6,1919 of Pulmonary embolism.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.