Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Valued Family Friends
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2015
1. Valued Family Friends Marker
While most families have a pet or two, the Roosevelt family nearly had a zoo. At various times they had dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, snakes, flying squirrels, kangaroo rats, birds, a bear cub, and a badger.
The death of a pet meant a funeral that included a procession, flowers, and even eulogies. Jack, a Manchester terrier and the family’s favorite dog, was buried twice; first under a rose bush at the White House and, after Theodore Roosevelt was no longer president, at Sagamore Hill. Edith couldn’t stand the idea of her dog interred “beneath the eyes of Presidents who might care nothing for little black dogs.”
“As for the dogs, of course there were many, and during their lives they were intimate and valued family members, and their deaths were household tragedies.”
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt series list.
Location. 40° 53.19′ N, 73° 30.088′ W. Marker is in Oyster
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Respite for Mrs. Roosevelt (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pet Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Stable and Grooms’ Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Wood and Tool Shed (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Gentleman’s Farm, 1918 (about 300 feet away); The Garden (about 400 feet away); A Garden for Food and Color (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oyster Bay.
More about this marker. The background of the marker contains a photograph of the Pet Cemetery Stone in 1904. Other photos on the marker depict “Colonel Theodore Roosevelt riding Little Texas after returning from Cuba, 1898.”; “Kermit, Ethel and Ted Jr. posing with their guinea pigs, taken at the Governor’s mansion in Albany, ca. 1899.”; “Archie with Josiah the badger, ca. 1903”; and “The original Jack on a rustic chair, 1904.”
Also see . . . Sagamore Hill National Historic Site - National Archives
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2015
2. Valued Family Friends Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2015
3. Marker at Sagamore Hill
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2015
4. Pet Cemetery Stone
1902
Susan and Jessie Skip
Little Boz 1907
1903 Little Texas
Jack Cuba 1898
Tamara
France 1917
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 444 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 8, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
