Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Trempealeau,
WI and Dresbach, MN. Project lands are located within the Corps of Engineers
Nine Foot Navigation Project and the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper
Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The Main channel provides
deep draft boating opportunities while the backwaters provide a wilderness
area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft boats. There is an observation
platform for visitors to watch lock operations and see towboats and barges up
close. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River
Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging
from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main
channel. In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National
Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many
State and local wildlife and recreation areas. Designated an American Heritage
River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including
sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded
bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Trempealeau, WI and Dresbach, MN.   Project lands are located within the Corps of Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project and the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  The Main channel provides deep draft boating opportunities while the backwaters provide a wilderness area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft boats. There is an observation platform for visitors to watch lock operations and see towboats and barges up close. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main channel.  In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many State and local wildlife and recreation areas.  Designated an American Heritage River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

Sagamore Hill is the home of Theodore Roosevelt and his family.

Three story Roosevelt family home sits on a hill in summer with green and white striped awnings across the porch.

Accessibility Map with two paths highlighted to tour meeting point. Yellow route is paved path to meet tour. Blue route is accessible route with ramp onto porch and around to the front door.

Map of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Full map of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site showing Roosevelt Home to the west, parking lot in the middle, and Old Orchard Museum and Nature Trail to the east.

The library and summer oval office when Roosevelt was president.

View into the family library with books on left, animal rugs on the floor, and windows to the right.

Family dining room with dark wood table and eight chairs in the center.

Three story Roosevelt family home sits on a hill with afternoon sun streaking across the field and a flag blowing atop a flagpole on the right.

Entryway into Sagamore Hill with small elephant tusks positioned in front of a fireplace on left.

First Lady Edith Roosevelt's drawing room with light blue walls and couches and animal rugs.

North Room filled with bison and other animal taxidermy and many gifts given to the Roosevelts over the years.

Mississippi River - Pool 7

Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Trempealeau, WI and Dresbach, MN.   Project lands are located within the Corps of Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project and the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  The Main channel provides deep draft boating opportunities while the backwaters provide a wilderness area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft boats.  There is an observation platform for visitors to watch lock operations and see towboats and barges up close. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main channel.  In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many State and local wildlife and recreation areas.  Designated an American Heritage River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

Oak Tree House from the other side of the canyon.

Stone rooms line a stone alcove in a cliff face in front of trees.

Entering Oak Tree House from Fewkes Canyon.

A portion of stone masonry village rooms with view of steep cliff walls in background

Ranger leading tour along trail to Oak Tree House.

A ranger walks along steep, carved, stone steps on trail.

Mealing bins (manos and metates) in Oak Tree House.

Square stone bins contained manos, metates, and corn for mealing in stone rooms.

Mississippi River - Pool 6

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge was established by Executive Order in
1936, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a refuge and breeding ground for
migratory birds and other wildlife. The original refuge consisted of a 706.9
acre upland portion with open areas of former hay, pasture and croplands. An
office and maintenance shop complex was constructed in 1936, along with
temporary facilities for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, which was located
on refuge lands until the advent of World War II.

For more than 40 years, the refuge remained small, despite several attempts to
purchase more than 5,000 acres of the surrounding Delta Fish and Fur Farm,
Inc. In 1975, Dairyland Power Cooperative acquired the entire Delta Fish and
Fur Farm. Dairyland wanted to construct a rail loop for a coal off-loading
facility near their power generating plant at Alma, Wisconsin. The land they
would need for constructing the loop was part of the Upper Mississippi River
National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. As part of a land exchange, Dairyland
divested about 120 acres of the Delta property and sold an additional 4,778
acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979. This addition, plus other
recent acquisitions, has brought Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge to its
present size of 6,808 acres.

Today, the oak savannas of the midwest are considered by some to be the
world’s most threatened communities. A savanna is generally defined as a plant
community where trees are present but are sparse. The open nature of the oak
savanna results in the establishment of numerous kinds of prairie plants, both
grasses and forbs. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge has remnants of
prairie-oak savanna habitats and management objectives support restoration
efforts to maintain and establish additional oak savanna landscapes.

Marsh and aquatic vegetation occupies almost half of the refuge. Wetlands
provide a multitude of ecological, economic and social benefits. They provide
habitat for fish, wildlife and a variety of plants. Wetlands are also
important landscape features because they hold and slowly release flood water
and snow melt, recharge groundwater, act as filters to cleanse water of
impurities, recycle nutrients and provide recreation and wildlife viewing
opportunities for millions of people.

Bottomland hardwood forests cover about 16% of the refuge. Bottomland forests
that are located along rivers are generally linear in shape. These linear
corridors serve as pathways wildlife can use to move from one habitat patch to
another. The dense vegetation of these forests provides cover to hide from
predators and an escape from the sun during hot temperatures. Restoration of
the forest habitat can make these areas more attractive to species like the
red-shouldered hawk and cerulean warbler. Bottomland hardwood forests are
rich, diverse ecosystems that benefit the environment, people and wildlife.

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge was established by Executive Order in 1936, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The original refuge consisted of a 706.9 acre upland portion with open areas of former hay, pasture and croplands. An office and maintenance shop complex was constructed in 1936, along with temporary facilities for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, which was located on refuge lands until the advent of World War II.For more than 40 years, the refuge remained small, despite several attempts to purchase more than 5,000 acres of the surrounding Delta Fish and Fur Farm, Inc. In 1975, Dairyland Power Cooperative acquired the entire Delta Fish and Fur Farm. Dairyland wanted to construct a rail loop for a coal off-loading facility near their power generating plant at Alma, Wisconsin. The land they would need for constructing the loop was part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. As part of a land exchange, Dairyland divested about 120 acres of the Delta property and sold an additional 4,778 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979. This addition, plus other recent acquisitions, has brought Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge to its present size of 6,808 acres.Today, the oak savannas of the midwest are considered by some to be the world’s most threatened communities. A savanna is generally defined as a plant community where trees are present but are sparse. The open nature of the oak savanna results in the establishment of numerous kinds of prairie plants, both grasses and forbs. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge has remnants of prairie-oak savanna habitats and management objectives support restoration efforts to maintain and establish additional oak savanna landscapes.Marsh and aquatic vegetation occupies almost half of the refuge. Wetlands provide a multitude of ecological, economic and social benefits. They provide habitat for fish, wildlife and a variety of plants. Wetlands are also important landscape features because they hold and slowly release flood water and snow melt, recharge groundwater, act as filters to cleanse water of impurities, recycle nutrients and provide recreation and wildlife viewing opportunities for millions of people.Bottomland hardwood forests cover about 16% of the refuge. Bottomland forests that are located along rivers are generally linear in shape. These linear corridors serve as pathways wildlife can use to move from one habitat patch to another. The dense vegetation of these forests provides cover to hide from predators and an escape from the sun during hot temperatures. Restoration of the forest habitat can make these areas more attractive to species like the red-shouldered hawk and cerulean warbler. Bottomland hardwood forests are rich, diverse ecosystems that benefit the environment, people and wildlife.

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Beaver at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Mississippi River - Pool 7

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Mississippi River - Pool 6

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge