Author Daniel Ruddy replies to my post yesterday on Theodore Roosevelt:

Thank you for mentioning my book “TR’s History of the U.S.” in your post on The Corner, and including the link to Amazon.
Sagamore Hill is a wonderful historical site–one of the very best in my opinion. I have visited it about 10 times in my life and never noticed the lack of religion in the house. Very interesting insight on your part, and very true. It is telling I suppose that while there is nothing religious of note, there is a large portrait of John Marshall in the library, which to me at first seemed to be a bit of an oddity, but now after finishing my book does not. Marshall, of course, was the king of “broad construction” and viewed the law as a living thing open to constructive interpretation. This was TR’s philosophy, too, and I think it applied to alot of things beyond the law, including TR’s personal religious beliefs, which were never clearly defined (see my Explanatory Note on this in the Appendix)
The most spiritual TR historical site is not Sagamore Hill, but the least visited one–the site of his cabin and ranch in North Dakota’s Badlands. It is difficult to get to as it involves a 30 mile drive at a speed of ten miles an hour or so down a dirt road with craters that could be found on the moon, but if you are looking to TR’s spiritual side, that is where you will find it.

UPDATE: Ruddy provides a little more detail, in response to an e-mail that I had forwarded to him:

TR actually had two ranch locations. The one mentioned below is kept right behind the visitor’s center, and rather boring. I think it is a replica of the original one room structure. TR called this ranch the “Maltese Cross.”
The site I referred to was TR’s “Elkhorn Ranch.” The building itself is long gone, but the site is marked. It is on the Little Missouri River (which is more of a big stream) and is in the middle of no where. I was there about 4 years ago, and since then they may have paved a road out there, but I doubt it. It is a real pain to get out there–it took me over two hours at least to reach it–so most visitors just see the replica cabin. It is a shame because the replica cabin is so dull.
The Elkhorn Ranch was a much bigger structure, and more interesting. This is where TR wrote a few of his book and read on the veranda. It is a very spiritual place–quiet and serene.