{"id":48381,"date":"2026-03-28T14:31:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T14:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/i-visited-sagamore-hill-the-country-estate-of-president-theodore-roosevelt-dubbed-the-summer-white-house-take-a-look\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T14:31:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T14:31:09","slug":"i-visited-sagamore-hill-the-country-estate-of-president-theodore-roosevelt-dubbed-the-summer-white-house-take-a-look","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/i-visited-sagamore-hill-the-country-estate-of-president-theodore-roosevelt-dubbed-the-summer-white-house-take-a-look\/","title":{"rendered":"I visited Sagamore Hill, the country estate of President Theodore Roosevelt, dubbed the &#8216;Summer White House.&#8217; Take a look."},"content":{"rendered":"<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6e2ddf573a637a7567064?format=jpeg\" alt=\"sagamore hill house\"\/><figcaption>Sagamore Hill on Long Island, New York.<\/p>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>I visited Sagamore Hill, the grand country home of President Theodore Roosevelt.<\/li>\n<li>During his presidency, it was called the Summer White House.<\/li>\n<li>Now, the estate on Long Island, New York, is open to the public.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Have you ever wondered what, exactly, brought about the end of the Gilded Age?<\/p>\n<p>Look no further than our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, who was inaugurated in 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley, and pivoted the US away from its laissez-faire business traditions and toward the Progressive Era.<\/p>\n<p>However, Roosevelt&#039;s home, Sagamore Hill \u2014 nicknamed the Summer White House during his presidency \u2014 was built in 1884, smack in the middle of the Gilded Age.<\/p>\n<p>The Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, New York, encompasses Roosevelt&#039;s home, his son&#039;s house (now a museum), a nature trail, a pet cemetery, and acres of land.<\/p>\n<p>The park is free to enter, though you can pay $15 for a guided tour of Roosevelt&#039;s home. During my visit, I roamed the property, its museum, and its nearby beach, but I&#039;ll be back when the weather is warmer, giving me a glimpse of the home and its surroundings in their full glory.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#039;s what it&#039;s like to visit the Summer White House and its expansive surrounding estate.<\/p>\n<p>I drove out to Oyster Bay, a town on Long Island, to visit the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, the home of President Theodore Roosevelt.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6c140445048b5f68bbbd8?format=jpeg\" alt=\"sagamore hill on google maps\"\/><figcaption>Sagamore Hill is around 38 miles outside New York City.<\/p>\n<p>Google Maps<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It&#039;s free to visit Sagamore Hill, which contains the Roosevelt Museum, a nature trail, Roosevelt&#039;s home, beach access, and more.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c5859f299090a8c09b6b2a?format=jpeg\" alt=\"sagamore hill musuem nature trail\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During Roosevelt&#039;s presidency, he spent his summers at Sagamore Hill, which was nicknamed the Summer White House.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58588299090a8c09b6b24?format=jpeg\" alt=\"sagamore hill map\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now, it&#039;s a historic site open to the public.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c585bc299090a8c09b6b2c?format=jpeg\" alt=\"the trail sagamore hill\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The museum is located in the Old Orchard House, which was built on the estate in 1938.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b9ffe99557fb1b08a0d5?format=jpeg\" alt=\"exterior of old orchard\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was the home of Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the president&#039;s eldest son. He died in 1944, shortly after becoming the oldest general to storm the beaches on D-Day.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b966e99557fb1b08a0d2?format=jpeg\" alt=\"theodore roosevelt musuem at old orchard\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Theodore Jr. and his wife, Eleanor, purchased the land for Old Orchard from his family after they &quot;tired&quot; of living in rented homes.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b93f445048b5f68bbb7e?format=jpeg\" alt=\"orchard hill exterior\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It has 12 rooms, making it smaller than his childhood home atop the hill but more than enough for their four children.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b928445048b5f68bbb7c?format=jpeg\" alt=\"orchard house\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The home has since been turned into a museum for Roosevelt.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b878445048b5f68bbb6f?format=jpeg\" alt=\"entrance of orchard house\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The upstairs is closed to the public, but the first floor is filled with Roosevelt facts and memorabilia.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b8aee99557fb1b08a0c3?format=jpeg\" alt=\"orchard hill house\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The museum goes through Roosevelt&#039;s entire life.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6ba2f8e44c01630d31851?format=jpeg\" alt=\"roosevelt museum\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of Roosevelt&#039;s famed Rough Riders uniforms, custom-designed by Brooks Brothers, is on display.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b90d445048b5f68bbb78?format=jpeg\" alt=\"rough riders uniform\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The hat and pin Roosevelt wore to President McKinley&#039;s funeral are there, too. McKinley&#039;s death led to Roosevelt, his vice president, becoming the youngest president ever at 42.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b8f0e99557fb1b08a0c7?format=jpeg\" alt=\"roosevelt hat and pin\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Part of Roosevelt&#039;s legacy was his dedication to preserving land. A display of junior park ranger badges from across the US honors his love of nature.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b8d4445048b5f68bbb73?format=jpeg\" alt=\"national park ranger badges\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Of course, the museum also has a gift shop.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b88e8e44c01630d31841?format=jpeg\" alt=\"gift shop\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Behind the museum is the entrance to a 0.7-mile loop trail that leads to the beach.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58e83399d53573095346c?format=jpeg\" alt=\"orchard grove house\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The surrounding forest is filled with oak and hickory trees.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6b8258e44c01630d3183a?format=jpeg\" alt=\"woods sagamore hill\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The trail leads to a boardwalk across a salt marsh to Cold Spring Harbor. A boardwalk in some form has been here since 1888, when Roosevelt built one for his family.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6ba60e99557fb1b08a0df?format=jpeg\" alt=\"boardwalk at sagamore hill\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During their time here, there were bath houses, a floating dock, and rowboats.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58e534133f63e1c778bea?format=jpeg\" alt=\"dunes sagamore hill\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now, it&#039;s just a peaceful beach.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58d91399d53573095345b?format=jpeg\" alt=\"beach at sagamore hill\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I hiked back to check out more of the grounds. These structures are from when Sagamore Hill was a functioning farm, from 1885 to 1948.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58d3c399d535730953454?format=jpeg\" alt=\"barns at sagamore hill\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Inside the former chicken coop, there&#039;s information about the farm&#039;s history, including images from the Roosevelt family&#039;s personal archive.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58a8eb87081653c9a653c?format=jpeg\" alt=\"barn sagamore\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I walked toward Roosevelt&#039;s house. I passed what was once a working windmill \u2014 Roosevelt once cut open his head while trying to repair it.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6beac445048b5f68bbbba?format=jpeg\" alt=\"windmill sagamore\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Finally, I came to Sagamore Hill. It was built in 1884 for Roosevelt and his first wife, Alice, but she died the same year, and Roosevelt left New York for years to grieve.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c6d7d9f573a637a7566fdd?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Sagamore Hill\"\/><figcaption>Sagamore Hill.<\/p>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He returned for good after he remarried in 1886. Roosevelt and his second wife, Edith, remained married until his death in 1919.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c589c6b87081653c9a6538?format=jpeg\" alt=\"roosevelts at home\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Latin phrase &quot;Qui plantavit curabit&quot; is etched over the front door. It means &quot;He who planted will sustain.&quot;<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58985399d535730953434?format=jpeg\" alt=\"roosevelt family home crest\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The house was designed by architects Lamb &amp; Rich.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58893b87081653c9a652e?format=jpeg\" alt=\"front door sagamore\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A 22-year-old Roosevelt purchased the land on which Sagamore sits in 1880. He paid $30,000 for 155 acres, or roughly $1 million today.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c588b1b87081653c9a652f?format=jpeg\" alt=\"sagamore side porch\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He lived here with his family until his death. During the seven years of his presidency, it became known as the Summer White House.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58df04133f63e1c778be5?format=jpeg\" alt=\"bench at sagamore hill\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Peace talks during the Russo-Japanese War were held here. Roosevelt would later win the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the conflict.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58875399d53573095342c?format=jpeg\" alt=\"driveway seating sagamore\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A memorial for Roosevelt&#039;s youngest son, Quentin, is on the property. A pilot, he was shot down during World War I, making him the only child of a US president to die during combat.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c589a3b87081653c9a6536?format=jpeg\" alt=\"quentin roosevelt tomb\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The day before Roosevelt died in 1919, he told his wife, &quot;I wonder if you will ever know how much I loved Sagamore Hill.&quot;<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c58a4a4133f63e1c778bb3?format=jpeg\" alt=\"sagamore hill house\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After visiting, I understood why. It must&#039;ve been a peaceful respite for Roosevelt, a true outdoorsman. I&#039;ll be coming back when the trees are green and flowers are blooming.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69c585d648461c18d7be67f9?format=jpeg\" alt=\"exit sign from sagamore hill\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Read the original article on Business Insider<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sagamore Hill on Long Island, New York. Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider I visited Sagamore Hill, the grand country home of President Theodore Roosevelt. During his presidency, it was called the Summer White House. Now, the estate on Long Island, New York, is open to the public. Have you ever wondered what, exactly, brought about the end [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-48381","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-usa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48381\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}