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VOL. 125 NO. 48
NOVEMBER 24 - 30, 2023
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R.R. Museum blends history and innovation By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
Courtesy Ann Balderston-Glynn
Visitors to the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum will get the chance to learn about Theodore Roosevelt’s life in Oyster Bay from the president himself.
In a move that blends the rich history of Oyster Bay with cutting-edge technology, the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum has unveiled its new Theodore Roosevelt Augmented Reality experience. Funded by a grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the initiative promises to transform museum visitors’ experience and make Roosevelt’s legacy more accessible to a diverse audience. The museum is the latest cultural institution on Long Island to launch an augmented-reality app to bring history to life, and the Gardiner foundation has supported similar programs at local museums such as Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay. The foundation was established in 1987, and supports the study of Long Island history and its role in the American experience. Visitors to the railroad museum can now download the free Theodore Roosevelt Augmented Reality app and observe CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Highlighting Theodore Roosevelt’s life in Oyster Bay By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
In the heart of Oyster Bay, a transformation is underway — a project that promises to transport residents and visitors back in time, immersing them in the rich history of the hamlet. The initiative involves the installation of historic panels that weave the tale of President Theodore Roosevelt’s connection to various buildings and sites in Oyster Bay. The project is a collaboration between the Town of Oyster Bay and the National Park Service, which operates and maintains Roosevelt’s family
home at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. Jonathan Parker, Sagamore Hill’s superintendent, could not be reached for comment as the Herald went to press. “I’m very excited about history, and very excited about creating historical tourism destinations in our town,” Joseph Saladino, Town of Oyster Bay supervisor, said. “And where better to do that than in Oyster Bay, a place steeped in history connected to the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and the impactful tenure of Governor and President Roosevelt.” The first panel, already installed next to the iconic Der-
by-Hall Bandstand, serves as a testament to Roosevelt’s historical ties to the site. Roosevelt, known for delivering speeches from the bandstand, played a significant role in the town’s history. This tangible connection, Saladino said, provides visitors with a deeper understanding of the significance of the structures they see. In total, there will be four panels scattered throughout the hamlet, which will not only spotlight Sagamore Hill but also show the president’s connections to lesser-known buildings. For instance, the Moore Building, which now houses the restaurant Wild Honey, was
once a hub for key members of Roosevelt’s administration, including his secretary of the Navy. Snouder’s Drug Store, on South Street, was the first building to have a telephone pole installed so that the president could be reached while vacationing at the so-called Summer White House. These
stories, brought to life by the panels, weave a captivating narrative of Roosevelt’s impact on Oyster Bay. “On June 25, 1903, on the steps of the Oyster Bay Town Clerk’s Office, President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated a parrot gun cannon from the USS R.R. Cuyler,” the panel by the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6