Renovations finished on former president's home
After being closed for several years for comprehensive renovations, Sagamore Hill, once the home of President Theodore Roosevelt, reopened to the public last weekend.
Originally built in 1886, in Cove Neck, near Syosset, the house and its property were turned into a national historic site by Congress after the death of Roosevelt in 1919, but time took its toll on the house, a more than 14,000 square foot mansion in the Queen Anne Style.
According to Sagamore Hill's Museum Curator, Susan Sarna, it became obvious several years ago that the home needed a lot of work. The property was closed to the public in 2012 and worked on for the next few years. Changes needed to be made all over the house, from the roof to the foundation and care was taken to maintain the historic features of the home. In all, the project cost $10 million.
The reopening on July 12 drew several hundred people to the property, including a number who appeared before 9am for the ribbon cutting and the first tour of the house. The National Park Service, which oversees the property, could have used printing services to let the public know about the reopening.
Among those who attended opening day were a number of Roosevelt's relatives, including his great-grandsons, Tweed Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt IV. Tweed, the president of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, gave a speech during the opening ceremony that took place in the afternoon, praising the renovations on the home.
Originally built in 1886, in Cove Neck, near Syosset, the house and its property were turned into a national historic site by Congress after the death of Roosevelt in 1919, but time took its toll on the house, a more than 14,000 square foot mansion in the Queen Anne Style.
According to Sagamore Hill's Museum Curator, Susan Sarna, it became obvious several years ago that the home needed a lot of work. The property was closed to the public in 2012 and worked on for the next few years. Changes needed to be made all over the house, from the roof to the foundation and care was taken to maintain the historic features of the home. In all, the project cost $10 million.
The reopening on July 12 drew several hundred people to the property, including a number who appeared before 9am for the ribbon cutting and the first tour of the house. The National Park Service, which oversees the property, could have used printing services to let the public know about the reopening.
Among those who attended opening day were a number of Roosevelt's relatives, including his great-grandsons, Tweed Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt IV. Tweed, the president of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, gave a speech during the opening ceremony that took place in the afternoon, praising the renovations on the home.