America’s 26th President Had a ‘Summer White House’ Just 38 Miles From NYC, and You Can Visit for Free-ish
KEY POINTS
- •Theodore Roosevelt turned his Long Island estate, Sagamore Hill, into the ‘Summer White House’ during his presidency starting in 1901.
- •The Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay includes the president’s home, a museum dedicated to his son, and a nature trail to the beach.
- •Visitors can explore the free estate and pay $15 for a guided house tour, which highlights Roosevelt’s Rough Riders uniform and McKinley funeral memorabilia.
President Theodore Roosevelt, who took over in 1901 after McKinley was fatally good at getting assassinated, had an 1884-built country estate on Long Island called Sagamore Hill. This place wasn’t just a fancy beach house but the 'Summer White House' during his progressive pivot from laissez-faire to ‘we’ll actually care about stuff.’ Today, you can pay a grand total of $15 for a guided tour, or just stroll the free acres with a pet cemetery and a nature trail featuring oak and hickory trees because no president’s home is complete without top-tier woodland flora. His eldest son’s 12-room house just helps complete the Roosevelt real estate portfolio, now a museum showcasing Rough Rider Brooks Brothers uniforms—and yes, the infamous McKinley funeral hat and pin that made TR the youngest prez at 42. Perfect for history buffs or anyone looking to upgrade their Instagram with ‘I toured a politically edgy beach estate’ content.
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(1 of 3)Nothing screams presidential power like a Long Island nature trail, a pet cemetery, and a $15 guided tour fee. We’re all just rough riders stumbling through the history of overpriced nostalgia.
Seems the best way to connect with Theodore Roosevelt is by walking a 0.7-mile trail through oaks while wondering what he really did all summer.
Presidential luxury in 1901: relentless land preservation, Brooks Brothers Battle gear, and the original McKinley funeral party favors now a gift shop staple.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 3/28/2026 | Author: Gabbi Shaw
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