OYSTER BAY, NY (December 2023)—The Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center is proud to announce the release of an innovative augmented reality (AR) experience. The experience allows visitors to interact face-to-face with an AR representation of Theodore Roosevelt. Teddy guides you around the center and speaks of how his adventurous life and the people he encountered inspired his life-long dedication to protecting nature.

This immersive AR experience is accessible through the TRAR™ mobile app.  It is compatible with both Android and Apple devices.  Developed by 360XR, an AR startup specializing in historical content, TRAR™ allows guests of all ages to have their own historical adventure by visiting the TR Sanctuary and Audubon Center and having the former president guide its iconic sights and fascinating stories.  This exciting experience and its content are free of charge and available to anyone with a mobile phone.

TRAR™ is the newest installment of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation initiative, Digital Tapestry™. Digital Tapestry™ is a series of Augmented Reality experiences across Long Island.  The project seeks to enhance visitor engagement with the island's historical sites and museums. Digital Tapestry™ experiences currently fall under three themes:  1776AR™ focuses on the American Revolution, 1502AR™ highlights African American Culture, and TRAR™ is all about Theodore Roosevelt. The Digital Tapestry™ initiative offers over 60 unique AR experiences across 11 locations on Long Island.  The scope and technical sophistication of these AR experiences are unrivaled in the museum world.

Digital Tapestry™ is committed to ensuring the utmost authenticity with all its experiences.  With this in mind, the TRAR™ experiences include the voice of world-renowned Theodore Roosevelt impersonator Joe Wiegand.  Wiegand has portrayed President Roosevelt in all fifty U.S. states and the Whitehouse. Joe’s voice adds depth to the character, enhancing the immersive nature of the tour.

This TRAR™ experience is full of entertaining, educational, and authentic stories told by 3D recreations of Teddy Roosevelt.  These stories include: 

• Conservation—Teddy will reveal to you how a boy born of ill health and raised in New York City grew to be a passionate outdoorsman and naturalist, eventually becoming known as Conservationist-in-Chief after his outstanding contribution to preserving the natural wonders and resources of the nation.
• National Parks—Listen to Teddy discuss the establishment of the American Natural Parks and his motivations for expanding their numbers and acreage.
• Africa—Teddy speaks of his post-presidency expedition to Africa, where his mission was to collect natural specimens for American museums. Still, with the journey involving hypocrisy, Teddy explains the reasons behind his actions.
• Birds—Teddy shares his lifelong passion for birds with you and explains the importance of establishing national forests and sanctuaries to assist in preserving bird populations as the fashion industry works towards their possible extinction.
• Teddy Bear—Teddy describes the origins of his namesake, the teddy bear to you, and how a beloved figure in the lives of almost all children is a legacy to a man that saved a bear's life and became internationally known for his love of nature.

The Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center are thrilled to be part of the TRAR™ app project.  In the words of Center Director Kathryn D'Amico, “What better way to honor the conservation legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt than to see him 'walk the grounds' of the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary? We have just completed a major renovation of our Wood Thrush Education and Visitor Center, and we welcome visitors to to the new center and to enjoy the amazing TRAR app experience. Through the stories told by Teddy Roosevelt himself, we can learn that we all play a role in preserving and conserving the natural world. Audubon does not only connect people with nature but strives for our communities to take purposeful action to protect birds and the places they need, and the places people need!”

To experience TRAR™, you can begin by clicking this link on your mobile device and downloading the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store, then visit the grounds of the Sanctuary and follow the instructions in the app to bring history to life and have an unforgettable experience.

Learn to use the app with Sanctuary staff!

Stop by our new visitor center, located at 134 Cove Road in Oyster Bay, NY, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM for staff guidance on getting started with the app, or join us for the following weekend "kickoff" dates:

• Saturday, 12/2 from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
• Saturday, 12/9 from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
• Saturday, 12/23 from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Our gardens and trails, which host all five TRAR™ experience stories, are open daily from sunrise to sunset for all to explore! 

———

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, established in 1987, primarily supports the study of Long Island history and its role in the American experience. 
Until his death in August 2004, Robert David Lion Gardiner was the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island, NY. The Gardiner family and their descendants have owned Gardiner’s Island since 1639, obtained as part of a royal grant from King Charles I of England.

The Foundation is inspired by Robert David Lion Gardiner’s passion for New York history.