Special agents from the National Park Service (NPS), in coordination with FBI Investigators, recently made a significant recovery by retrieving a presidential timepiece that had been missing for 37 years due to theft. The historic pocket watch, which had last been seen in a public display in 1987, was taken during its transition from the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site to the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site in Buffalo, New York.
According to the NPS media release, the valuable silver pocket watch was originally gifted to the then-future President Theodore Roosevelt by his sister Corinne and brother-in-law Douglas Robinson in 1898. This 126-year-old keepsake bears the inscription “THEODORE ROOSEVELT FROM D.R. AND C.R.R.” Roosevelt received the watch while he was in Washington, D.C. waiting to join the Spanish American War. A week later, he departed for San Antonio, Texas to lead the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, eventually serving as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909.
The recovered relic is a Waltham 17 jewel watch in a silver-coined case, with a “Riverside” grade and model “1888” featuring a hunter-style case. NPS Director Chuck Sams, alongside members of the Roosevelt family, announced the return of this piece of presidential history during a special event held to celebrate its return.
The pocket watch, which had a front-row seat to many historical events, accompanied Roosevelt on his various adventures, including hunting in Africa, exploring the Amazon, and charging San Juan Hill in Cuba. It is now on display at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in the Old Orchard Museum, among thousands of other items gifted to the NPS by the Roosevelt family.
Jonathan Parker, the superintendent of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, emphasized the significance of historic objects like this watch, stating that they are powerful because they were actual participants in historical events. The stories that the watch could tell over the last 126 years include colorful and profound moments in American history, as noted by Parker.
Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, New York, served as the home of Theodore Roosevelt from 1885 until his passing in 1919. The NPS has made the watch available for public viewing free of charge for the next three months, starting from June 27. For more Lifestyle articles, visitors can check out www.foxnews/lifestyle.
In conclusion, the return of this presidential timepiece serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving American history for current and future generations to learn from. The watch’s journey through time, witnessing key historical events alongside one of America’s influential leaders, adds to its cultural and historical significance. Its display at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site offers visitors a unique opportunity to connect with the past and appreciate the stories behind this iconic piece of American history.
