Photo: Elisa Rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born at Springwood, his family’s estate in Hyde Park, in 1882. He grew up riding and sailing along the Hudson and always thought of Hyde Park as home, even as governor of New York and president.
As president he came back often, and the house was sometimes called the Summer White House. He hosted King George VI and Queen Elizabeth there in 1939, famously serving them hot dogs at a picnic.
The library
In 1939 Roosevelt donated land at Hyde Park for a library to hold his papers. It opened in 1941 as the first presidential library administered by the National Archives, setting the pattern for every president since.
He also built Top Cottage, a small retreat on a hill nearby, and Eleanor Roosevelt had her own place at Val-Kill, east of the estate.
Today
Roosevelt died in April 1945 in Warm Springs, Georgia, and was buried in the rose garden at Springwood. Eleanor was buried beside him in 1962.
The Home of FDR, the library and Val-Kill are all open to visitors and are among the busiest tourist sites in Dutchess County.
