Visit an Historic Treasure Trove: The FDR Site
The Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historical Site is located on Route 9 in Hyde Park, New York. The estate is the lifelong home of 32nd President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was responsible for the New Deal and U.S. involvement in World War II. FDR is also the longest tenured president of the U.S.
The Hyde Park estate became a retreat for FDR and his family throughout his life and presidency. In 1867, FDR’s father, James Roosevelt, purchased the land that overlooks the Hudson River. FDR was born in the home in 1882 and grew up on the grounds riding horses, playing with his dogs and sailing on the Hudson. FDR married Eleanor Roosevelt in New York City in 1905, and the Springwood house became their home shortly after.
In the present day, the estate is roughly 800 acres and features many prominent locations. One of the first buildings that stands out is the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. As an avid historian, FDR was looking for a way to preserve history wanting to provide the public with tons of information so that they could draw their own conclusions about his presidency. With this message in mind, he created the first presidential library in 1941. Today, one can find more than 50 million items pertaining to the records of FDR including the rough draft for his “Day of Infamy” speech.
Just outside the library is Freedom Court, an art sculpture representing the freedom that FDR and longtime friend/ally Winston Churchill strived for. There are two bronze busts of Roosevelt and Churchill facing each other at the entrance to the sculpture. The sculpture is made up of two silhouettes of humans with barbed wire at their feet. The silhouettes are made from pieces of the Berlin Wall, and the sculpture has inscriptions at the feet that say: “Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Fear, Freedom of Speech, Freedom from Want”. The sculpture was created by Edwina Sandys, granddaughter of Winston Churchill.
Farther down the road in the estate is Springwood. The Springwood home started as a small farm house and evolved through the years into the large and beautiful home it is today. Franklin and Eleanor added to the house to accommodate their growing family. As the former assistant secretary of the Navy, Springwood is filled with cannons, bells, ship wheels and other aquatic artifacts. The home would be the location for many different occasions including: meetings with diplomats such as Queen Elizabeth, King George VI and Winston Churchill; celebrations for campaign victories; and a stop on John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign.
Springwood brought peace of mind and stability to FDR throughout his life. “My heart has always been here. It always will be,” said FDR at Springwood on the night of the 1940 presidential election. It was for that reason that he chose it to be his final resting place. Today, the Rose Garden at Springwood, where Franklin and Eleanor were laid to rest, is a memorial site for the couple and their accomplishments and the estate is a national historic site.
