My second visit to a Presidential Library and Museum took me to the Hudson River Valley, specifically to Hyde Park, New York, birthplace and lifelong home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. Traveling on a #Delta flight down to #ATLairport mid-morning from #RDUAirport on an A320, I made an easy connection shortly after Noon on a B717 to #cityofwp. I booked a 2-night stay with points at #RitzCarlton New York, Westchester, a #MarriottBonvoy property. Located just 30 miles north of New York City, this property is a luxury hotel with a seasonally inspired spa, a rooftop pool, beautiful suites and 2 full service restaurants. The first, BLT Steak, features fine meats and seafood dishes along with an outstanding wine list while The Lounge offers all-day light fare and a breakfast buffet on weekends. Although I wasn’t booked into a suite, my room was tastefully decorated and spacious at over 500 square feet in size, with soundproof windows and the luxurious and sleep-inducing Ritz Carlton bedding for which they are world renowned.
Interestingly enough, I went to high school in White Plains but hadn’t been back in quite some time so it was fun to see how much that city had gown and changed over the years. Now considered to be one of the best places to live in New York State, the city has a population of roughly 58,000 and is blessed with a highly rated public school system. White Plains continues to attract both regional and national business as well as international headquarters within its boundaries. Because of its close proximity to midtown Manhattan, many residents commute to the City for work. Although its cost of living is lower than that of New York City itself, White Plains is by some measures among the highest in the world.
I picked up a #Hertz rental car early the next morning for the 1 hour and 15 minute drive north to Hyde Park and reached the grounds shortly after they opened at 9:00 AM. My first stop was the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center. It's named in honor of the man who served as FDR's Secretary of Agriculture (1933-1940) and as Vice President during Roosevelt's third term in office. It was opened in 2003 and is the first new facility to be added to the estate since the Library was constructed in 1941. Here, in the center's 140-seat theatre, visitors are treated to a 20-minute, high-definition film which features historical footage and interviews with 2 of the Roosevelt grandchildren, Curtis Roosevelt and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.
One of the main attractions in the entrance hall of the Wallace Center is a large, beautiful map in mosaic tile that depicts the Hyde Park that FDR knew and loved. The mosaics show all the places that compelled him to return to his estate again and again. It was adapted from a book by Olin Dows, a Hudson Valley and Works Progress Administration artist. The book was published in 1949 and is called "Franklin Roosevelt at Hyde Park."
Looking out from the glass enclosed lobby, visitors can see the attractive Kerr Courtyard which leads towards the Library and Home. When entering the courtyard, you're greeted by a life-size sculpture of Franklin and Eleanor based on a 1935 photograph of the couple taken at Hyde Park. Their smiling faces add a homey touch to the grounds and are indicative of the manner in which they are known to have made their guests feel welcome, whether at the White House or at the Hyde Park estate.
After exploring the Wallace Center, I headed over to Springwood, the Roosevelt home which is now a National Historic Site. The structure was originally constructed around 1800 and was purchased by FDR’s father James in 1866. FDR was born in the house in January of 1882 and he called it home throughout his life. During his presidency he made almost 200 visits to Springwood, which functioned as the “Summer White House” where the president hosted his political associates as well as other prominent national and international notables. In June of 1939 the first visit by a reigning British monarch to the United States occurred at Springwood when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited at the invitation of President and Mrs. Roosevelt. Other distinguished guests included UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and royal figures from the Netherlands and Norway. Roosevelt’s final visit to Springwood occurred in late March of 1945, about 2 weeks before his death the following month.
After the guided tour of Springwood, I enjoyed a quick sandwich for lunch from Uncle Sam's Canteen located back in the Wallace Center. The canteen offers visitors a convenient place to grab a coffee, pastry or sandwich. It's adorned with patriotic decor and is open 7 days a week on a seasonal basis (April through October) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Once I'd finished my lunch, I strolled over to see the gardens. They're so peaceful and I can certainly understand why Roosevelt wished to be buried near the sundial in the Rose Garden. Eleanor was buried at his side after her passing in 1962.
Near the home is America’s first presidential library and museum and the only one ever used by a sitting president. It was designed in 1937 by FDR himself in the Dutch colonial style and opened in 1941 on the grounds of the Roosevelt estate. The tradition of presidents donating their papers to the Library of Congress was ended when Roosevelt donated his personal and presidential papers to the National Archives. Through a private foundation and with no taxpayer monies, his friends and supporters raised the funds necessary to build the facility. It was constructed at a cost of $376,000 (more than $6.5 million in today's dollars).
The Library’s new, permanent museum exhibits were recently installed with $6 million in private funds raised by the Roosevelt Institute, the Library’s private, non-profit partner. These striking exhibits tell the story of the Roosevelt presidency. They begin with the despair of the Great Depression years which constituted the longest, deepest and most widespread economic downtown of the 20th Century. The exhibits take visitors through the New Deal and its government funded programs through the Second World War. They all seek to emphasize Franklin and Eleanor’s relationship with the American people during these tumultuous times.
The renovated museum contains many interactive exhibits including touch screen experiences at the presidential study and FDR’s Ford Phaeton, which was specially equipped for him with hand controls in lieu of normal foot pedals. “Confront the Issues” consists of ten interactive touch screens strategically located throughout the exhibition. These offer visitors the opportunity to explore digital “flip books” that feature documents, photographs and excerpts from historians with multiple viewpoints surrounding the FDR Presidency. Some topics include Japanese Internment Camps, the Holocaust, FDR’s Health and the New Deal.
These new galleries also feature two interactive Fireside Chat Environments. Each of these have a radio and period furnishings, inviting visitors to relax and listen. After the address is finished, one can hear readings of actual letters representing a variety of opinions offering a glimpse of how Americans felt about Roosevelt’s leadership during his presidential years. Before departing, I headed back over to the Wallace Center. I saved a visit to The New Deal Museum Store, found adjacent to the lobby, as my last stop. This store sells a wide variety of campaign, political and patriotic items, as well as reproductions, sculptures, medals, coins, china and posters. It also features a large selection of books about the Roosevelts and the enduring influence they had on US history.
It’s clear that Franklin Roosevelt was one of the pivotal figures of the 20th Century. From the New Deal lifting us out of the Depression with its expansive government programs and increased executive authority to America’s emergence as the world’s dominate superpower at the close of the Second World War, Roosevelt was the driving force. Visiting Springwood and the FDR Museum helped to bring his times and his presidency into focus for me and I would recommend a visit there to anyone with even a passing interest in that period in history. Of course, I was on the grounds until closing time at 5:00 PM. I did run into a little bit of rush hour traffic going back to White Plains but managed to return my rental car without incident. Following a tasty bite to eat in The Lounge, I awoke refreshed and ready for my return to Raleigh through Atlanta the following morning.
Until next time…safe travels.
Interesting comment about "crowdfunding" and the National Archives - and we thought this was a new phenomenon ...
Wish you were my docent when I was there. You made it so much more special!!