Day Trip to Hyde Park, New York

As the country is immersed in headlines about the upcoming presidential election race, this month’s Day Trip takes a look back at the lifestyle of a former president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and his hometown of Hyde Park, New York. 

Located in the northwest portion of Dutchess County, just north of Poughkeepsie, the town is the site of the FDR estate called Springwood, now officially named the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, which is maintained by the National Park Service. Once Roosevelt’s birthplace and lifelong residence, where he often hosted distinguished guests from around the world, the house is now a popular museum that offers guests a glimpse into the wealthy and privileged upbringing of the future Democratic president.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, America’s first presidential library and the only one used by a sitting president, is also here in Hyde Park and is operated by the National Archives. It houses a vast collection of his personal papers, books, memorabilia, and other items assembled from a lifetime of public service. Both the 32nd U.S. President and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, are buried at Springwood, in the estate’s rose garden.

The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site is open all year, seven days a week (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors are only able to see the Federal-style home itself by guided tour, but the expansive grounds, trails, and picturesque gardens are free and open from sunrise to sunset daily. The FDR Presidential Library and Museum, also included with admission to the estate, offers self-guided tours.    

Your visit will usually begin at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center, where you can watch an introductory film and arrange for both the guided tours of the historic home – led by knowledgeable National Park Rangers – and self-guided tours of the library and museum.

At the easternmost edge of the 300-acre estate is Top Cottage, a smaller, Dutch colonial-style home that Roosevelt built as a quiet retreat from the bustle of Springwood and where he would invite close friends and political allies to spend time with him. Top Cottage is open from May through October and is also available for tours, with shuttles departing from the visitor center.

Val-Kill, a modest structure about two miles away, was used by Eleanor Roosevelt for her personal work and became her home after the president’s death. It is the only National Historic Site dedicated to a first lady. It is also open for guided tours from May through October, with the grounds open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Visitors are generally advised to plan a minimum of two and a half hours to tour Springwood, and another two hours to see Top Cottage. An additional 90 minutes is suggested to devote to Val-Kill. 

The historic town of Hyde Park also includes other notable sites, one of the most impressive being the neighboring Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. Established as a monument to an entire era – the so-called Gilded Age – the stunning estate is one of the few remaining premier examples of the “country palaces” built by wealthy industrialists.  Overlooking the east bank of the Hudson River, the site sits on 211 acres, with expansive views, formal gardens, grand landscaping, natural woodlands, and numerous structures. The centerpiece of the estate is the magnificent 54-room mansion used by Frederick William Vanderbilt and his wife Louise as a seasonal country residence.

Like its famous neighboring sites, the Vanderbilt Mansion is open for guided tours seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., although times are more limited from November through April and subject to change, so it’s wise to check schedules when you plan to visit. The mansion is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The surrounding grounds are open every day throughout the year from sunrise to sunset.

The National Park Service maintains very informative websites about each of these always breathtaking, often inspiring destinations. There are even convenient itineraries available online, offering advice on how to easily and efficiently plan your day to take in the entire experience. Reasonably priced tickets allow access to multiple sites, and free shuttle buses are available to usher you to each location.

For more details on how to take your own day trip back into history, check out these websites: www.nps.gov/hofr/index.htm, www.nps.gov/vama/index.htm, www.hydeparkchamber.org, and www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/library/history.html.