National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Theodore Roosevelt Museum 

History Hunt – A Junior Ranger Activity

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 2

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site is offering our young

visitors a special opportunity to visit President Roosevelt’s

Summer White House and to have fun in the process by

taking part in a number of different Junior Ranger Activities

on site. 

These activities will teach children about the Roosevelt 

family and their home while earning a Junior Ranger badge

and certificate. These programs also introduce Ranger

Activities, the concepts of conservation and stewardship to

young people.

In order to earn the Junior Ranger badge, the young person

must complete any one of several activities. These are the

activities currently offered:

Those completing three or more of the activities are entitled

to the special Sagamore Hill Junior Ranger Patch. (You must

show the certificates or the completed booklets to receive

the patch.)

1. Theodore Roosevelt and His Sagamore Hill Home

2. The Theodore Roosevelt Museum History Hunt

3. Letterboxing Adventures at Sagamore Hill

4. The Wonderbook of Nature: 

Exploring Natural History at Sagamore Hill

“The nation’s

most valuable asset

is the children; 

for the children 

are the nation of

the future.” —Theodore Roosevelt

at the Jamestown Exposition, VA

June 10, 1907

Junior Ranger Program

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Junior Ranger Activities

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 3

Museums tell stories and show history

by using objects, pictures and written

text throughout the exhibits and displays. 

You need to be a detective or an 

archaeologist to find the message and

figure out the story.

Follow Theodore Roosevelt’s adventures

around the world as you view the

exhibits in the museum. Fill in the blank

to complete a quotation or find the object

that is described.

Helpful Hints:

Look carefully at the objects and read the large text on

the exhibits.

The questions are listed according to rooms.

If you know the answer write it on the lines below the

question.

Good Luck!

Rules:

No Running or

Pushing

No Loud Talking

Work in Teams

of Two or More

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 4

Theodore Roosevelt

Museum History Hunt

Entry Hall –

Ideal American

From Boy to

President –

Influences and 

Early Life

(room to right 

when you first enter

museum)

1. What is missing from the bronze sculpture of

Theodore Roosevelt (TR) in the entrance hall?

(not arms)

4. Out in the Dakotas TR worked as a rancher,

explored the wilderness and hunted big game.

What two items in the case were worn to help

with these jobs?

1.

2. 

2. “The basis of good citizenship is the 

.” 

– Theodore Roosevelt

(first photo you see of him as a young boy)

3. What makes the gold ring unusual?

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 5

8. What is surprising about the date this Medal

of Honor was presented?

5. What symbol is repeated on the buttons and

buckle of TR’s Rough Rider uniform? 

7. Read the entire text under the heading

“Medal of Honor.” When did TR receive the

Medal of Honor?

6. Who wrote the book, The Rough Riders?

TR the President –

An Accidental

President

(room following 

the first)

9. On 

President William McKinley died after being

shot eight days earlier.

10. Find the bookshelf. How did TR describe

books?

Bonus:

Name the four 

presidents whose 

faces are carved on 

Mt. Rushmore.

1.

2.

3.

4.

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 6

13. Look at the gold medals. Why did TR

receive the Nobel Peace Prize?

14. Look in the case with all the gold objects.

What animal is featured on top of the gold cup? 

11. “Speak softly and carry a

.”

(West African proverb often quoted by TR)

As president, TR tried to live by this saying. He sent

U.S. Navy ships around the world, making a show of

power (the big stick). But he often used meetings

(speaking softly) to end conflicts, such as the RussoJapanese War.

12. Explain in your own words what “speak

softly and carry a big stick” really means.

Bonus:

Go back to the room

called “Influences and

Family Life.” List five

jobs TR held before he

became U.S. President. 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 7

19. Find the large oil painting of TR. How

many acres of land did TR protect and preserve

each day during the time he was president?

16. What was the purpose of the little bottles

taken on the African Safari?

After the

Presidency–

The Great

Adventure

(room on left at end of

entry hall)

17. What pull toy was also the name of a 

political party?

18. Who wore the flying cap in the glass case? 

20. When and where did TR die? 

Bonus:

What was the most

interesting thing you

saw in the museum?

Draw a picture of it

below and tell why you

like it.

15. What cereal is pictured in the African Safari

poster?

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20 Sagamore Hill Road

Oyster Bay, New York 11771

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

Explore and enjoy all the Junior Ranger Activities 

currently offered:

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Home of Theodore Roosevelt

TM

1. Theodore Roosevelt and His Sagamore Hill Home

This activity is completed following a visit to the home of the 26th

president. Children may do this when they visit with their families,

or it is administered as a take-back-to-class activity for school

groups who have visited.

2. The Theodore Roosevelt Museum History Hunt

Be a history detective and test your powers of observation. 

This activity is administered to young people and their families 

or during a site visit by school groups. For many children this 

will be their first Junior Ranger experience.

3. Letterboxing Adventures at Sagamore Hill

An activity in which you are the detective in search

of a hidden letterbox using clues in this booklet.

Letterboxing is known as The Outdoor Treasure

Hunting Pastime and involves use of compass

orientation and puzzle solving.

4. The Wonderbook of Nature: 

Exploring Natural History at Sagamore Hill

This activity book is a field guide to some selected species of plant

and animal life found at Sagamore Hill. The activity teaches 

children to use a printed guide book to identify plants and animals.

The Sagamore Hill Series: Connecting America’s Children to Theodore

Roosevelt and His Sagamore Hill Home. It is the purpose of this series to use

historic photos, artifacts, political cartoons and the like, to tell the story at age

appropriate language to reach young people and to serve as a platform and

entry point for additional exploration and discovery via print and web-based

distance-learning activities.

These materials were developed by the professional and volunteer National

Park Service staff at Sagamore Hill NHS, Oyster Bay, New York, to mark the

centenary of TR’s Presidency in 2006.

Your name(s)

The National Park Service cares for

special places saved by the American

people so that all may experience 

our heritage.

Thanks to the Friends of Sagamore Hill

for their financial assistance in 

creating and printing these materials.

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