Day 2–Home and Presidential Library of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hyde Park, NY

It was certainly quite here last night – almost like no one else but us are here.  After a good nights  rest we were ready to do some sight seeing. It is really pretty country in this area and everything is in bloom.

We arrived at the visitor center around 10:40  am, watched the 30 minute video on President Roosevelt and then took the house tour. Our guide was very informative and kept the tour interesting and light. FDR came from a very privileged, aristocratic family and was educated by private tutors until his late teens. He had an incredibly interesting personal and political life.

In 1943 President  Roosevelt donated his home and 33 acres to the American people stipulating that his family  be able to use it after his death. The family relinquished their lifetime rights and the property was transferred to the Department of the Interior on November 21, 1945.

 

 

       

  

There is very little lighting in the home to preserve all of the original belongings.  No flash photography allowed so difficult to get really good pictures.

 

 

At age 39  FDR  contracted polio and never walked again unaided. Below is the “dumbwaiter” elevator that he  used to get to the second floor of his home.

After FDR contracted polio he and his wife Eleanor  slept in adjacent rooms.

   

This was the home that FDR was raised in and his mother Sara was the Matriarch of the family. It is said that FDR’s wife , Eleanor never felt at home despite having and raising their children here.

After the tour we walked the grounds stopping at FDR’s  resting place. 

 

 

Carving of Eleanor and FDR from sections of the Berlin Wall

                              

 

                                                       

After our tour we had a quick snack and toured the Presidential Library.  As  FDR neared the end of his second term he began thinking about the disposition of his papers. He was closely involved in the design and building of the library. He donate 16 acres of the Springwood estate, designed the stone Dutch colonial building and  even helped place the initial exhibits. He also reserved one room for his study. After Roosevelt was reelected for his third and fourth terms, the study became his office away from the White House and the scene of conferences with world leaders and four of his fireside chats. This is the only presidential library that was used by a sitting President.

 

 

There were many unique gifts given to the President during his tenure but the one below was the  most unique given to him by the White House Press Corps – a paper Mache sphinx of the President.

There are  multiple videos recapping  the personal and political life of FDR. He was a dedicated political leader who wanted only the best for all who lived in the US. Not everyone saw it that way and like any other sitting President he had his supporters and naysayer’s.

He did implement many social programs that are in  place today with the goal of leaving no one behind in total poverty. We truly enjoyed this library an the history of such a great man.

Not only was FDR interested in improving the life of all residents of the US , his wife Eleanor was also deeply involve in helping others. There is gallery in the library devoted to the life of Eleanor. It was a great day with incredible lessons in history.

Later we stopped on the Hudson River to take in the views. ‘

     

  

 

Ron had found a great restaurant so we stopped for dinner.

                       

    

 

View from our table:

 

The food was delicious and well presented.  Good choice Ron!

Back at the CG we took Jewel for her much needed walk. By this time it looked like the skies would  open up into a pouring rain. As we walked down the road along the lake we saw several signs posted so stopped to look.

I guess the people down this road aren’t very friendly!!!!!!