The home of our 26th president officially reopened after a $10 million restoration project that took more than three years to complete. Thousands of visitors lined up this past Sunday to visit Theodore Roosevelt’s Sagamore Hill mansion. Sagamore Hill was the first presidential home to be used as a “Summer White House.”
“The entire building was redone and we reopened the house on the first floor of the home,” said Martin Christiansen, chief of interpretation, visitor services, and natural resources at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, noting that upwards of 5,000 people were expected during the day of the reopening celebration.
The grand reopening and free family festival was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There were a lot of events on the property throughout the day, including an opening ceremony on the porch at the front door of the Theodore Roosevelt House followed by an a cappella performance of “Sagamore Hill” by the Roosevelt Singers. Actor James Foote portrayed Theodore Roosevelt and engaged people in interesting conversations about the 26th president’s life and career.
Pony rides were available throughout the day, along with a petting farm in the historic pastures where the Roosevelt family kept their own livestock. Children’s crafts were also available, as well as traditional games like potato sack races, egg and spoon races and hoop games.
The official reopening ceremony took place on a stage at the rear of the home at 2 p.m. with engaging addresses from Roosevelt family members Congressman Steve Israel, Harvard professor Mike Canfield and others. Some of the Roosevelt family members included Tweed Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt the fourth, both great-grandsons of the ex-president.
Lead curator of the restoration project, Sue Sarna, explained the overall effort that was involved in renovating both the interior and exterior of the home.
“The whole thing basically started in 2008 when we had a three year study of the layout plans for the rehabilitation of the house,” said Sarna. “In those studies we realized that we were going to have to everything from soup to nuts to get the home in its previous historical condition.”
Sarna said that everything in the house was in need of renovation, including the roof, siding, windows, electrical and heating systems, outside porches and interior and exterior painting.
“We needed to add new lights to the entire site, both in the interior and exterior of the house and we also took out and put in the original porch that was part of the home when it was built in 1884,” said Sarna.
Additionally, the sprinkler system on the property was extended and a fire and security system was newly installed with CCTV capabilities.
“Overall, we had to pack and move 12,000 objects out of the home and then move all of those objects back,” she said.
Ranger-led tours are now available to those ages 16 and over. The tour leads guests through all three levels of the home. The cost is $10 per person.
