Guided tours of Theodore Roosevelt's have concluded until the rehabilitation project is complete. Areas to remain open to the public during construction include the visitor center and museum store; the Theodore Roosevelt Museum at Old Orchard; site outbuildings and grounds, along with the nature trail which leads to the national wildlife refuge on Cold Spring Harbor.
Reservations
Reservations are accepted for organized groups numbering between fifteen and fifty-five people. We receive many requests for reservations from schools, scout troops, clubs, veterans organizations, etc. and we accept them on a first-come, first-served basis. You may inquire about a reservation for your group by emailing SAHI_Reservations@nps.gov. Specific details about your group can be worked out with a staff member. Reservations are not accepted for weekend afternoons.
A handbook of background information for group leaders is available by clicking here. Information aimed specifically at teachers is available here.
Visitor Center and Bookstore
Visitors should always check in at the Visitor Center, which is the first building they see after entering the park. Here they can purchase tickets for tours of the Roosevelt Home (Visitors may only enter the house on a guided tour; purchasing tickets right away is essential as tours often sell out by the afternoon). Visitors can also find out about offerings of the day, and shop for books, post cards and related items at our Eastern National gift shop.
The Main Attraction: The Roosevelt Home
Guided tours of the home will be given through December 4, 2011 when the home will close to visitors. President Theodore Roosevelt's house is, of course, the main attraction at Sagamore Hill. Very much unchanged since 1910, the year after Roosevelt left the presidency and returned from his long safari in Africa, it is one of the most unique houses in America. Visitors can see twenty-three rooms of the house, while learning about the active lifestyle of President Roosevelt and his family, by taking a guided tour of the home. Please note: The Roosevelt Home is not currently accessible to wheelchairs.
The Roosevelt Museum at Old Orchard
Built as a family home by General Theodore Roosevelt Junior, the president's oldest son, this is the second most visited area of Sagamore Hill NHS. Today, Old Orchard houses exhibits and movies which tell the story of President Roosevelt's early and public life and give visitors a feel for what Sagamore Hill was like a century ago. People can enjoy the museum at their own pace, spending any amount of time they wish - from a few minutes, to a few hours.
The Sagamore Hill Nature Trail
Visitors can walk on the same path Theodore Roosevelt and his family took on their many trips for swimming and camping at Cold Spring Harbor. It is an easy walk through an oak and tulip-tree forest and over the Eel Creek boardwalk to the beachfront where waterfowl spend their days swimming and searching for food. This area is a Federally protected wildlife refuge - so we urge visitors to enjoy this part of Sagamore Hill, but not to disturb it in any way.