Episode Details

In September 1901, Theodore Roosevelt began the day near the summit of Mount Marcy. By the following morning, he was president of the United States.

Now, 125 years later, Newcomb and neighboring Adirondack communities are bringing that dramatic journey back to life.

The world’s premier Theodore Roosevelt repriser, Joe Wiegand, returns to ADK Talks with Mary Monaghan, chair of Newcomb’s 2026 Teddy Roosevelt Weekend. Together, they offer an insider’s guide to one of the Adirondacks’ most remarkable history celebrations, taking place September 11–13, 2026.

Listen before planning your trip to Newcomb, Great Camp Santanoni, Tahawus, Minerva, North Creek and the central Adirondacks.

What you’ll hear in this episode

• Follow Roosevelt’s urgent nighttime journey from the slopes of Mount Marcy to the North Creek train station.
• Discover where Roosevelt may have been when President William McKinley died and the vice president became America’s youngest president.
• Preview the 125th-anniversary inauguration reenactment, Midnight Ride bus tour, Santanoni wagon rides and family activities.
• Hear why the Adirondacks shaped Roosevelt’s love of wildlife, wilderness and conservation.
• Get local recommendations for Goodnow Mountain, Overlook Park and the Adirondack Interpretive Center.

Resources:

• Joe Wiegand’s Teddy Roosevelt Show
• 2026 Teddy Roosevelt Weekend in Newcomb
• Theodore Roosevelt’s Midnight Ride on ADK Talks
• Theodore Roosevelt’s Adirondack Ride to the Presidency

Produced by NOVA