Recent Preservation & Protection

Temporary Replacement for the Cape Buffalo at Sagamore Hill

The original Cape Buffalo in the front hall of the TRH, which was shot by TR himself during his African safari in 1910, begins cracking every year with the onset of Winter but with proper care the NHS Curatorial Staff have always managed to keep the damage to a minimum. Unfortunately, in 2019, the cracking began earlier than usual due to a large swing in temperature and humidity at the beginning of November. The cracking was so severe that immediate action had to be taken to prevent further damage to the specimen. Work is scheduled to be done by an expert taxidermist, but in the meantime, an artificial Cape Buffalo was produced which will hang in the front hall at Sagamore Hill until the original can be safely displayed. Both the taxidermy work on the original Cape Buffalo and the production of the faux Cape Buffalo, were funded by The Friends of Sagamore Hill. On the right is a photo of the faux Cape Buffalo hanging in the front hall.

Past Preservation & Protection

Old Orchard Museum Door Knocker: Before

Preservation of TR manuscript with Sagamore Hill letterhead

Old Orchard Museum Door Knocker: Before

The Friends of Sagamore Hill paid for the restoration of the original door knocker on the front door of the Old Orchard Museum. This is what it looked like prior to restoration.

Old Orchard Museum Door Knocker: After

Preservation of TR manuscript with Sagamore Hill letterhead

Old Orchard Museum Door Knocker: Before

And this is what it looks like now!

Preservation of TR manuscript with Sagamore Hill letterhead

The Sagamore Hill NHS did not own any document on Sagamore Hill letterhead. Above is a manuscript page from a speech TR gave in 1902 on the trusts in Cincinnati. The Friends of Sagamore Hill purchased it and donated it to the NHS collection.

Plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's death mask (front)

Preservation of TR manuscript with Sagamore Hill letterhead

The Friends of Sagamore Hill purchased and then donated this plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's death mask, done in 1919 and taken from the initial plaster bandages by James E. Fraser

Plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's death mask (side)

Plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's death mask (front)

Plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's death mask (side)

Here is a side view of the same plaster cast.

Plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's right hand

Plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's death mask (front)

Plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's death mask (side)

Along with the death mask, The Friends of Sagamore Hill also helped preserve and protect the plaster cast of Theodore Roosevelt's right hand, also done by James E. Fraser.