Presentation by Paul Grondahl, Author, I Rose Like a Rocket: The Political Education of Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt biographer Paul Grondahl will discuss the dramatic hours when Vice-President Roosevelt climbed Mount Marcy, learned that President William McKinley’s condition had become critical from an assassin’s bullet, undertook a daring midnight wagon ride to the North Creek train depot, and traveled by train to Buffalo, where he was sworn in as the 26th President of the United States. Grondahl’s talk will clarify a lingering mystery about Roosevelt’s long delay at the Tahawus Club before he set out for North Creek.

Grondahl, whose books also include Mayor Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma, is the director of the New York State Writers Institute. In addition, he is an award-winning journalist, who has worked for the Albany Times Union since 1984. His numerous writing awards include the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award for Feature Reporting; the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award; two first place national feature writing prizes from The Society for Features Journalism; more than a dozen New York State Associated Press writing contest awards; and the Hearst Eagle Award, the highest recognition for a reporter in the Hearst Corp.

The Adirondack Experience (ADKX) will be bringing Taps & Trivia to The Public House in North Creek on May 14, in partnership with the 125th Anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s Night Ride to the Presidency Committee.

This special edition of Taps & Trivia will be blending Adirondack-themed categories with questions inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s life, legacy, and pursuits, including his connection to the Adirondacks.
No Teddy Roosevelt expertise is required to play. Questions will be multiple choice, and everyone from casual players to seasoned trivia regulars will be welcome. Gather your party and put your knowledge to the test!

Prizes for first, second, and third place teams.

Presentation by Mary Calvi, Author and Emmy Award Winning Journalist, Co-anchor at WCBS-TV.

Calvi will talk about her historical novel, which is based upon on love letters between a young Roosevelt and his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee. In addition to being the co-anchor of the daily morning and noon news broadcasts at WCBS-TV in New York City, she has been been an anchor for the syndicated newsmagazine  Inside Edition. Over the course of her career, Calvi has won 13 New York Emmy Awards.

Presentation by Dr. William Hansard, Ph.D., who will speak about the creation of the digital repository of the Theodore Roosevelt Center.

As a public historian for the Theodore Roosevelt Center, Dr. Hansard develops lectures and presentations for students and public groups, gives guided tours of the Center’s exhibits and library, and assists in reference requests, among other duties. He is also the primary author of posts for the Center’s Substack blog, The Bully Pulpit.

Dr. Hansard, who completed his PhD in History at the University of Texas at Arlington, is a scholar of the United States during the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era.

Journalist and author Paul Grondahl will discuss the rise of Roosevelt’s political career.

Grondahl, whose books also include Mayor Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma , is the director of the New York State Writers Institute as well as an award-winning journalist. He has worked for the Albany Times Union since 1984, and he continues to write a weekly column for the newspaper. His numerous writing awards include the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award for Feature Reporting; the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award; two first place national feature writing prizes from The Society for Features Journalism; more than a dozen New York State Associated Press writing contest awards; and the Hearst Eagle Award, the highest recognition for a reporter in the Hearst Corp.

Joan Collins, a prominant Adirondack birding guide, author, and conservationist,will talk about “TR’s Adirondack Birding.”

Theodore Roosevelt, who as a boy loved sketch, identify, and collect birds living in the vicinity of his family’s summer home in Oyster Bay, New York, went on to create more than 50 federal bird reservations during his time as President.

Collins is a New York State licensed bird guide as well as a writer and speaker on ornithology topics. She has led walks and made presentations for many organizations, including Audubon, the Adirondack Mountain Club, and the New York State Ornithological Association.  She is also the President of Adirondack Avian Expeditions & Workshops, LLC, and has served in leadership roles for the New York State Ornithological Association and the Northern New York Audubon Society.