Theodore Roosevelt’s Stolen Pocket Watch Returns Home After 37 Years

In a remarkable turn of events, Theodore Roosevelt’s cherished pocket watch, which had been missing for 37 years, has finally found its way back to Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on Long Island. This historic timepiece, once carried by Roosevelt himself, was stolen in 1987 from a mansion in Buffalo and has now been returned to its rightful home.

The pocket watch, while modest in its craftsmanship with an inexpensive coin silver case, holds immense historical significance. Gifted to Roosevelt by his sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, it was a constant companion during some of the most pivotal moments of his life. The watch was with him in 1898 as he led the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War, a campaign that cemented his fame. It also accompanied him on his adventurous travels down the Amazon River and across Africa, as well as during his tenures as New York’s governor and the 26th president of the United States.

In a heartfelt letter to his sister, Roosevelt expressed his gratitude, saying, “You could not have given me a more useful present than the watch; it was exactly what I wished.” After his death in 1919, the watch became a part of the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, where it was displayed until its theft.

The Theft and Rediscovery

The watch was lent to the Wilcox Mansion in Buffalo in 1971, the site where Roosevelt was sworn in as president in 1901. Unfortunately, it was stolen from an unlocked glass case in July 1987. The theft remained unsolved for decades, with both local police and the FBI unable to track it down.

The long-lost watch resurfaced in 2023 at an auction house in Clearwater, Florida. Edwin Bailey, the owner of Blackwell Auctions, briefly listed it for sale but soon decided to reach out to Sagamore Hill and the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site to confirm its authenticity. The distinctive inscription on the watch, “THEODORE ROOSEVELT, FROM D.R. AND C.R.R.,” referring to his sister Corinne and her husband Douglas Robinson, made verification straightforward.

A Triumphant Return

In a ceremony held on Thursday, the National Park Service officially repatriated the watch to Sagamore Hill. The timepiece will now be displayed at the Old Orchard Museum, allowing the public to once again appreciate this piece of history intimately connected to one of America’s most storied presidents.

This return not only brings closure to a decades-long mystery but also restores an artifact of great personal and historical value to its rightful place. Theodore Roosevelt’s pocket watch, a silent witness to his extraordinary life and legacy, is now back where it belongs, continuing to inspire and educate future generations.

Photo: The White House

Photo: Jason Wickersty, National Park Service