Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Roosevelts at Play
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
| — | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | — |
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2015
1. Roosevelts at Play Marker
Tennis at Sagamore Hill had unique challenges and court rules. The ground wasn’t level and tree branches closed in the court. The Roosevelts allowed “that when a ball hit a branch and might have gone in it was a ‘let.’”
For Theodore Roosevelt sports were about building character and body. They might get rough, with bruises and blood, but that was all part of the game. Roosevelt, his family – including cousins and their parents – and anyone else were welcome to play. In addition to tennis, games included football, swimming, obstacle courses, or any other event Roosevelt could turn into a competitive adventure. The most important rule of Roosevelt-led point-to-point (obstacle) walks were to “go over, under, or through – but never around.” It was all part of his belief in “the strenuous life.”
“Oh, those perfectly awful endurance contests masquerading as games!”
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. In addition, it
this page online
Location. 40° 53.082′ N, 73° 30.161′ W. Marker is in Oyster Bay, New York, in Nassau County. It is on Sagamore Hill Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oyster Bay NY 11771, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area and on Long Island. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tennis Anyone? (within shouting distance of this marker); Sagamore Hill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Quentin Roosevelt (about 400 feet away); Theodore Roosevelt
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2015
2. Roosevelts at Play Marker
More about this marker. The background of the marker features a photograph of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. playing tennis with a cousin, ca. 1902. A photograph at the upper right of the marker depicts Theodore Roosevelt, some of his children, and cousins playing football, ca. 1894, with Kermit and Ethel watching from the sidelines. Below this is Theodore “Roosevelt’s sketch of himself playing tennis with Alford Cooley, from his letter to daughter Ethel on June 22, 1904.”
Also see . . . Sagamore Hill National Historic Site - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on March 28, 2024, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2015
3. Marker at Sagamore Hill
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2015
4. Site of the Sagamore Hill Tennis Court
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 444 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 6, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
