President Theodore Roosevelt's summer home enriches Oyster Bay in American history
OYSTER BAY, New York (WABC) -- Located about 33 miles east of Manhattan, you will find the charming, historic North Shore hamlet of Oyster Bay.
Today, it balances a small-town community feel with a rich maritime heritage, along with deep ties to American history.
"It's the home of the 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. His summer White House was right here at Sagamore Hill-the office where he handled executive business is just one block from Town Hall," said Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino. "But our history predates President Roosevelt, going all the way back to General George Washington and the Culper Junior Spy Ring."
Raynham Hall is where Culper Junior lived; his real name was Robert Townsend. He was a key intelligence gatherer for George Washington in British-occupied New York City during the American Revolution.
"Oyster Bay was one of the places where they ran their operations, from a home that the town now owns. It is part of 26 historic locations that are very important to our program," Saladino said. "That program is the Long Island History Hunt, where we encourage people to visit these sites, take a selfie, and send it in. They can win prizes, but in doing so, they learn a lot about Long Island's history and how closely it's connected to America's history, which is great."
But George Washington is not the only president with ties to Oyster Bay. It is also home to Sagamore Hill, the historic residence of the 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt.
"These sites include President Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill, which is right up the road from Town Hall. His burial site is here as well," Saladino said. "There are so many attractions, including Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. We have a lot of history here and in the surrounding
communities."
Almost everywhere you go in Oyster Bay, you will find a connection to American history - sites honoring the Civil War, African American history, and the development of Long Island itself.
"It's a treasure trove of interesting sites, and what a great way to bring the family and spend weekends visiting different locations," Saladino said. "It's all free and provides an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful North Shore of Long Island-plus visit fabulous restaurants, ice cream shops, and local stores. There's so much to do in Oyster Bay."
Below you will find some of the many events happening at state parks on Long Island through the summer and beyond as part of the America 250 celebration.
May 30, 10 AM - 12 PM | Belmont Lake State Park: Colonial Cooking - Learn how colonialists grew and cooked their food as well as popular recipes from this time. Watch as Diane Schwindt from the Ketcham Inn cooks food over an open-air hearth and then sample items that she cooked! 40 people max.
June 6, 10 AM - 12 PM | Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve: Hike Through History - Go on a hike through Long Island's role in Revolutionary History in a year-long series highlighting how local sites played a role during the American Revolution.
June 14, 10:30 AM - 12 PM | Caleb Smith State Park Preserve: Flag Code of the Revolution - Explore how our flag has evolved over the past 250 years, and how flag code was useful communication during the Revolutionary War. Go on a guided hike to decode a spy letter using flag code and create a flag of your own to take home.
June 20, 11 AM - 12:30 PM | Hempstead Lake State Park: Spy Through Parks - Become a code breaker like Washington's spies! Learn how the Culper Spy Ring used codes during the American Revolution, then try to crack the secret codes for real!
August 2, 1 - 3 PM | Connetquot River State Park Preserve: He Dared To Sign: William Floyd - Long Islander William Floyd dared to sign the Declaration of Independence for New York in 1776. In doing so he risked his life, family and fortunes. But he didn't sign on July 4th! Most of the men signed today, August 2, 250 years ago! This talk will cover Floyd's life and times and the actual signing of the Declaration, along with 3 other New Yorkers.
August 15, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Caleb Smith State Park Preserve: Hike Through History - Go on a hike through Long Island's role in Revolutionary History in a year-long series highlighting how local sites played a role during the American Revolution.
September 4, 6 PM - 8 PM | Connetquot River State Park Preserve: Spy Through Parks - Become a code breaker like Washington's spies! Learn how the Culper Spy Ring used codes during the American Revolution, then try to crack the secret codes for real!
October 4, 10 AM - 12 PM | Sunken Meadow State Park: Hike Through History - Go on a hike through Long Island's role in Revolutionary History in a year-long series highlighting how local sites played a role during the American Revolution.
October 17, 1 - 3 PM | Nissequogue River State Park Preserve: Unfinished Revolutions: First Nations - The American Revolution itself was imperfect and many Native Americans did not benefit from its ideals of liberty and freedom. Learn more about the ongoing struggle of New York's Indigenous communities to achieve the ideals of the Revolution from author Travis Bowman and Montaukett Executive Director Sandi Brewster-Walker.
November 14, 10:30 AM - 12 PM | Connetquot River State Park Preserve: Revolutionary Remedies: The Women Who Healed a Nation - Explore the overlooked medical work of women during the American Revolution. We'll highlight the nurses, caregivers, Indigenous healers, and enslaved African women whose herbal knowledge, improvised remedies, and daily labor sustained the Continental Army. Through a hands-on activity, visitors will discover how ordinary women used extraordinary ingenuity to keep a nation alive.
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