The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Photo courtesy of the FDR Library

Washingtonians heading up I95 to upstate New York and who are looking for something to do over the long Thanksgiving weekend should consider visiting Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Franklin D. Roosevelt used his estate in Hyde Park, New York during his presidency as a retreat and presidential library. FDR loved Springwood and considered it home. He used the presidential library he built on the property while acting as president. On his death, FDR bequeathed the land and the library to the public.

Today, the FDR library is a history lovers delight. Exhibitions at the museum touch on both the lives and political contributions of FDR and his wife Eleanor Roosevelt. The website contains a fabulous copy right free collection of photographs detailing the lives of the Roosevelts.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is important not just for the history it contains but it set a precedent when FDR established the the first presidential library. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is a public/ private partnership. The library and museum is maintained by a non-profit organization. Information about the library and museum can be found on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum website. The home and grounds are part of the national park system and are maintained by the National Park Service and can be found on the web as the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.

The grounds of the FDR home is open year-round, seven days a week except Thanksgiving day, Christmas and New Years Day. The buildings are open 9:00am to 5:00pm. Walking the extensive grounds is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset. The walk from the home to the river is delightful. There is a fee to visit the buildings. The last tour of the library and home is at 4:00pm.