Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center

History

In 1919, President Theodore Roosevelt was buried in Youngs Memorial Cemetery overlooking Oyster Bay. A few years later, Emlen Roosevelt, cousin and friend to the late President, bought the twelve acres surrounding the cemetery and donated the land to the National Audubon Society to be preserved the nation's first songbird sanctuary. In 1927, the memorial fountain, designed and executed by the famed sculptor Bessie Potter Vonnoh, was dedicated in the late President's memory. During the early years, the sanctuary was managed as habitat for songbirds. In its 80 years, however, we've grown into one of the leading environmental education organizations in the New York Metropolitan area, reaching more than 100,000 children and adults annually. Our educators teach natural science programs throughout Long Island, the City of New York, and Westchester County. In addition, staff and volunteers study bird populations and advocate for the protection of habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Specialties

We provide environmentally themed education programs to audiences of all ages. At our sanctuary we have animals that are permanently disabled, which we use to educate people about them and their special characteristics.