Theodore Roosevelt may be Oyster Bay’s most celebrated son. The 26th U.S. president called Sagamore Hill not just home, but also his summer White House. Spend a day in Oyster Bay and you can catch TR’s famous grin on statues, stores, historical sites and more.

Here’s how you can follow in the adventurous Roosevelt’s footsteps and enjoy a Rooseveltian day in Oyster Bay.

A statue of Theodore Roosevelt, in his Rough Riders uniform and riding horseback, welcomes you into Oyster Bay.

Roosevelt was born in New York City but established a home in Cove Neck, named Sagamore Hill. The spot was known as the Summer White House when Roosevelt was in office, as he would take leave from Washington, D.C. and return to Long Island.

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site is now protected and maintained by the National Park Service. Walk in the steps of Roosevelt by touring the home and hiking the trails. Visitors can take part in ranger-led programs, and children (or children at heart) can earn Junior Ranger badges. Dogs are welcome on the property – though not inside buildings.

“The Old Lion is dead,” Roosevelt’s son Archie noted after TR died at 60 in 1919. Roosevelt was laid to rest at Youngs Memorial Cemetery in Oyster Bay Cove. Visitors wishing to pay tribute must climb 26 steps to the site, in honor of Roosevelt’s presidency. The gravesite itself is a humble spot. A separate memorial plaque notes Roosevelt’s Medal of Honor from his time with the Rough Riders in the Spanish American War.

Immediately next to the cemetery is Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center. Roosevelt had a particular fondness for birds and a real knack for identifying them. The center prides itself on having 14 acres consisting of gardens, ponds, hiking trails and a fountain sculpture. The sanctuary offers workshops, activities and camps for children.

TR was a voracious reader, often a book a day – even while in office. Former Rep. Steve Israel opened an independent book store affectionately titled “Theodore’s Books” on Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay. The walls are adorned with pics of Roosevelt (and Israel), and TR’s spectacles and mustache are featured in the store’s logo. The shop has a large selection of historical nonfiction, including numerous offerings on Roosevelt and other American presidents.

A short walk down the block from Theodore’s Books is Teddy’s Bully Bar – a gastropub boasting an old time feel with a modern twist. The spot offers drinks, dishes and live music. Teddy’s Bully Bar moved into the location of Canterbury’s, and the walls are now full of Theodore Roosevelt ephemera and taxidermy.

Author’s note: try the French dip.

A bust of Roosevelt sits outside Oyster Bay Town Hall.

54 Audrey Ave.
Oyster Bay, New York 11771

This park near the Oyster Bay Long Island Rail Road station was established and dedicated after Roosevelt's death. The waterfront park provides areas for recreation and quiet reflection, as well as the Theodore Roosevelt Monument Assemblage, a memorial rock garden featuring rocks from prominent locations in Roosevelt's life, including San Juan Hill, North Dakota and Washington, D.C.