A trip to the Mid-Hudson Valley is not complete without a visit to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park. It is one of just 15 located within the United States. It also happens to be the first presidential library built and the only one used by a sitting president.
Step right into this Dutch Colonial built in 1941, which contains 17 million pages of documents, 51,000 books, 150,000 photographs, and a great deal more artifacts, both personal and professional.
The library is part of the larger Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, which is run by the National Park Service.
Constructed in 1940 under the tutelage of FDR, this library marks the first time that presidential documents, papers, and artifacts were collected, organized, and made public.
FDR believed that these papers belonged to the nation just as much as they did to the government and that the library was an "act of faith."
Just some of the interesting things you can observe at the museum include a 500-square-foot Map Room, recreated to resemble the one FDR used while in the White House.
Here, you can follow FDR’s train of thought and military strategy.
You can even see FDR’s original Oval Office desk.
In addition to many of FDR’s personal books, photographs, recordings, artifacts, and memorabilia, you’ll also find his car.
The 1936 Ford Phaeton has special hand controls customized for FDR. It has a total of 19,143 miles.
Even if you aren’t too interested in FDR himself, there is an enormous amount of items and papers at the state and national level. Any historian would be thrilled to have this sort of VIP access.
FDR served as president from 1933 until 1945, very crucial years for American history, as it involved the Great Depression, World War II, New Deal programs, the repeal of Prohibition, the establishment of social security, and more.
The entire site that the property lies on is 800 acres, and in addition to the library, you can also visit Springwood, the Colonial Revival that has been with the Roosevelt family since 1867.
Guided tours are available. Just some of the viewable rooms include FDR’s birth room, his boyhood room, the entrance hall littered with paintings and cartoons from FDR’s collection, the music room (or formal parlor), and the study where FDR worked on his collections and greeted his guests.
After FDR passed away in Georgia in April of 1945, he was buried here. And after Eleanor passed 17 years later, she was also buried here.
You can view their burial sites in the Rose Garden.
The grounds and views aren't too shabby either.
During the 12 years that FDR was president, he made approximately 200 visits here. He was born at Springwood, grew up in Springwood, lived much of his adult life at Springwood, and was buried at Springwood. It is no wonder that he wanted his library here as well. Get the most up-to-date information on visiting the library.
Have you visited FDR’s or any of the other presidential libraries? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
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