Sagamore Hill to show how Theodore Roosevelt's family prepped, ate meals

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on Sunday is teaching kids how the family of President Theodore Roosevelt prepared and ate their meals.

Children will be able to walk around the kitchen of the Sagamore Hill home where Roosevelt lived and look at kitchen devices that the Roosevelt family and staff used, park guide Victoria Sommella said in an email.

They will be given images of modern kitchen gadgets and asked to locate their historic counterparts, such as a butter churn, a coffee grinder and a toaster, she said.

The children also will churn their own butter and knead bread dough that will be prepared ahead of time, and they’ll learn about the types of food the Roosevelts ate.

“This will give them an idea as to how labor intensive cooking was in the late 19th to early 20th century,” Sommella said.

The children also will learn about the fruits and vegetables that were grown on the Sagamore Hill farm and about the livestock that were raised.

The program is free and is targeted toward children ages 6-12. Reservations are required and space is limited. Parents won’t be able to join their children on the tour, Sommella said. To reserve, call 516-922-4788 or email Sommella at victoria_sommella@nps.gov.

Sunday is the first time the program will be held at Sagamore. It may be offered again in the fall, Sommella said.