Sagamore Hill is located in the picturesque village of Oyster Bay on Long Island. It served as the “Summer White House” for President Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, from 1885 until his death in 1919. The site is now a National Historic Site. It features the preserved home of the family along with a museum dedicated to Roosevelt’s life and legacy. Visitors to Sagamore Hill can explore the house though guided tours, and view artifacts from Roosevelt’s life. The tours give insight into the day-to-day life of the Roosevelt family.
It is a place I often go for a long walk. During Covid, it was one of the few places that were open and welcoming. During those dark days, walking the serene grounds was a respite for me from my work as a funeral director.
Dotted throughout the grounds are signposts that explain what life was like when the Roosevelt family lived there.
I usually begin my visit with a stop at the wood house. I sometimes sit in one of the rocking chairs on the large porch. The porch wraps around the front of the house.
Within view is the most poignant site on the ground: a cenotaph in the memory of Roosevelt’s son, Quentin, who was killed in WWI.
Then it’s on to the path through the woods. This path leads to what was the Roosevelt’s private beach on Long Island Sound.
On the way, I passed the apple orchard and looked up to see lots of ripe red apples. I made a mental note to shake the tree on my way back. But I didn’t have to. A man climbed the tree and kindly picked some apples for us. He told us that they were not sprayed with pesticides. I was delighted to hear that. And one bite bore that out. The apples tasted crisp and fresh. The next day I baked and sprinkled them with cinnamon for a perfect fall dessert.
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