Sagamore Hill 6-12-10

Today we left Brooklyn and visited Sagamore Hill, the summer home of Teddy Roosevelt.  The moment we walked in the house it was obviously Teddy’s; it had the head of a massive water buffalo mounted above the fireplace along with multiple other mounts.  Ivory tusks can be found throughout home with other rare items of his era:  an elephant foot trashcan, rhino foot inkwell, and animal hide rugs.  Teddy was an avid reader and he expected his children and even guests to be able to start a conversation at the dinner table regarding something that they read.  If the children couldn’t start a conversation at the dinner table they were sent to the kitchen to eat with the servants.  Teddy’s children were also expected to be on time for dinner.  Teddy hired immigrant women to work in the household; their rooms were on the 3rd floor; there was a seamstress, a cook, and someone to take care of the children.  After touring other sections of the Sagamore grounds it was evident they had many other servants to help in the stables, and gardens.  Teddy said that with wealth came responsiblity as well as priviledge.  He accomplished much in his terms as President of the United States; the Panama Canal, and the vast expansion of National Parks is what I will discuss with my students.  Teddy died on January 6, 1919 at the age of 60.

Teddy's Summer Home

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