Presidential Hyde Park - FDR Library - Springwood & Val Kil

Jul 22

The Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum was the first library solely dedicated to a President of the United States. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd and longest-serving United States president. The Library construction started in 1939 and was completed in 1941, at a cost of $376,000. The library has so much history included in permanent and special interactive audio-visual theaters, and artifacts that convey the dramatic story of the Roosevelt era. It is informative, showing how profoundly he helped shape the country.

Springwood, situated on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River, is a large rambling house. This is the only place in the Unites States where a President was born, maintained a lifelong connection, and is buried. The original house was built about 1793, and later renovated into an Italianate-style villa in about 1850. The firm of Hopping & Koen designed the transformation into the present Colonial Revival-style mansion, and an enlargement in 1915. Franklin lived at Springwood for most of his childhood, after his marriage to Eleanor, raised their children there, and returned often throughout his political career. FDR’s mother, Sara, made all the decisions about the running of the household, including menus, decoration, and furniture choices. Top Cottage was FDR’s private retreat that was specially designed to accommodate his needs to be fully accessible by wheelchair. Unfortunately, this was not open for tours during my visit.

Located a short distance from Springwood was Val-Kil. Eleanor Roosevelt considered Val-Kil to be her first real home. It allowed her privacy and a simpler life, as evident in the interior furnishings. Eleanor was an extraordinary First Lady, and a champion of Woman’s Rights, and was an advocate of the rights of the poor, minorities and the disadvantaged. She was the first, First Lady hold her own press conference and traveled extensively and was called “the President’s eyes, ears and legs”. After the White House, Eleanor held a positions with the United Nations, Peace Corps and was in great demand as a speaker and lecturerAfter Franklin’s death in 1945, Val-Kill became her main residence.

Here is what caught my eye, I hope you enjoy!

Do you like the images posted?
Click here to explore the shop.

Sculpture of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt outside the FDR Library visitor center

An exterior shot of the FDR Library where he would broadcast some of his radio “fire-side chats”.

A bust of FDR outside the Presidential Library

Some of the newspaper exhibited in the museum

This is a Library display of a tenament apartment

FDR saw the need to have a separate facility to store his historical papers, books, and other memorabilia spanning his many years in political office.

One of the estate buildings

The colonial revival- style Springwood

Springwood entrance

The verandah

The rear of Springwood overlooked the Hudson River

The Hudson Valley view from Springwood

The entrance hall with wainscot

In the entrance hall

The Library and Living Room

The Music Room is the formal parlor

On the piano in the Music Room, is a collection of autographed photographs of some famous guests that visited the Roosevelt family

The South Parlor or the Snuggery, was where Sara managed the household and estate.

Fireplace mantle with more family pictures

This is the rope-pulled lift FDR used after he contracted polio. It was originally used a trunk lift.

One of the bathrooms

Sara Roosevelt’s walk-in closet

The bedroom Sara gave birth to Franklin

The phone on the wall in Eleanor and FDR's master bedroom was a direct line to the White House.

This was originally Eleanor and FDR's master bedroom. Eleanor moved to a smaller, adjacent bedroom in the house when she learned of FDR’s affair with her social secretary, Lucy Mercer.

Another building on the estate

FDR’s father, James Roosevelt, built this Coach House in 1886

Architectural details of the Coach House

The Coach House is complete with horse stalls

The sink in the Coach House

The Tack Room in the Coach House

The many award the Roosevelt’s horses won

The Queen Anne-style Coach House with gable roof and turreted cupola

The Brahman greenhouse

Another view of the greenhouse

A garden view of the Coach House

The grounds

Nearby Val-Kil was completed in 1925

During Eleanor’s residency here at Val-Kil, she entertained many leaders including Nikita Khrushchev, John F. Kennedy and later members of the United Nations.

The garden area at Val-Kil

A larger building was built nearby to hold the Val-Kil Industries, which made furniture. It closed a decade later in 1936.

Patio - Val-Kil

The living area in Val-Kil

The dining room

Val-Kil furnishings reflect simple and comfortable

Dahlias blooming in the garden

Another cottage on the Val-Kil grounds

One of the displays from the FDR Library

There are walking trails.

Restrooms are available.
Tickets can be bought on-line only; additional charge for Springwood and Val-Kil house tours.
You could spend a couple of hours to the entire day.
Check the website for days and hours of operation and tours.
There are walking trails.

Location:

4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY

For more information: FDR Presidential Library and Val- Kil