Dave's Travel Adventures: FDR Mansion (Hyde Park, NY) -- July 2014

FDR MANSION (HYDE PARK, NY) – 8 July 2014

Heading north on Route 9 (also known as Albany Post Rd), we passed Marist College and the Culinary Institute of America, and then started to see the familiar name and images of the only President to have served more than two terms. We knew we were nearing our destination, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum. Also nearby was the FDR Mansion, and that was our first stop.

The last time I’d been to the FDR Mansion was back in 1987 on a senior high school trip. My parents had been here most recently about five or so years ago, and the Presidential Library hadn’t been constructed yet. While the Mansion wasn’t our primary objective this trip, it was only a few additional dollars to the admission cost to have the tour (and we arrived just in time for a tour to start). The tour started in the lobby of the Visitor’s Center, and then we walked past the Library to the Mansion. Considering the level humidity present, having a small tram present to bring the tour to the Mansion would’ve been nice (especially for those older folks).

As this is a historic site, it falls under the jurisdiction of the US Park Service, so a Ranger served as our guide. There were about twenty in our group, and we gathered out in front of the Mansion as the Ranger gave us some background of the dwelling. This had been the Roosevelt family home for many years, and FDR was even born here. When he entered into politics, FDR still resided here, and his wife Eleanor moved in with FDR’s mum (who was still living).

FDR was a strapping young man until about his 30s when polio cost him the use of his legs. For some reason I thought that had happened to him during childhood. (No matter how much you think you know, there’s always room for new knowledge and clarifications.) The Ranger pointed out the steps with the short railing which FDR would struggle to get up, so he would put on the appearance of being strong. A wheelchair (which FDR referred to as “The Machine”) was kept inside the front door, so he could maneuver around the house. It was noted that the press was asked not to photograph the President from the waist down because of this, or take no pictures when he was in “The Machine,” and they obliged. Somehow this situation happened in the modern day the press would be so accommodating.

There was a room on the front to our right (north) which had darkened windows and we wouldn’t be able to enter during the tour. This was the room where FDR and Churchill discussed important strategies during the war. Beyond that, we’d be able to explore the first and second floor (third was closed to the public), and no flash photography allowed.

Inside the foyer, the decorations remained much as FDR’s mother has wished it, with the more recent additions of some political cartoons, small sculptures, and other things honoring FDR’s presidency. The Ranger had mentioned when we went to the front parlor to look for the early type of television there, as FDR had one (keep in mind it was an expensive luxury item then). I noticed immediately, probably due to having seen pictures of it before. I had to chuckle that my parents didn’t recognize it, and they had the opportunities to have seen one first hand. For those who don’t know, the early televisions had the tube projecting upwards, and a mirror was used to allow a sitting view to see the images (unless you wanted to stand over it).

Next to that was the first floor library. What got my immediate attention was there was a raised platform with a railing which limited you access to the room to pretty much the entryway. My parents and I commented that wasn’t there previously. I suspect it was done to keep tourists from touching the various artifacts and furniture, in order to help preserve them. I do admit it would’ve been nice to wander about the room a bit to see what books were on FDR’s shelves, but the preservation of historical items is more of a need as far as I’m concerned.

The Ranger then took us to the second floor where the various bedrooms were, including the very room FDR was born in. This section had a bit more natural light, so non-flash picture taking was much easier.

FDR and Eleanor had separate bedrooms, which didn’t strike me as very odd. Older couples tend to have separate beds, if not bedrooms, especially if there’s different schedules (one’s retired when the other’s not), or medical-related stuff (like Restless Leg Syndrome). Eleanor’s room was rather reserved, but FDR had the larger suite. In the window was a silhouette of his beloved dog Fala, which may not have been noticed by most visitors.

On the second floor was also the converted dumb-waiter (a pulley-operated elevator) which FDR used to move between the different levels of the house. The third floor wasn’t open to the public, as it probably had more sensitive artifacts.

The tour then has you exit to the back patio and down some stairs back to the grounds. The mansion is on top of a large hill over-looking the Hudson River, so it has a great view. I do seem to recall on my last visit a bunch of my classmates (and myself) all running down the hill to see who could make it without falling down. In my more mature and adult manner, I enjoyed the view of the green mountains of the Catskills off in the distance.

That was the extent of the guided portion of the tour, as we were then free to wander the rest of the grounds. There was an extensive flower garden nearby, but we went in just to see the grave sites of FDR and Eleanor. It was a bright and sunny day, and my parents like to be in some shade when that happens.

Heading in the direction of the library, we ducked around to the backside, per the Ranger’s suggestion. There was a monument of two human silhouettes surrounded by barbed wire, and at the base had one of FDR’s “Four Freedoms” written on each side (thus this area was called “Freedom Court”). Nearby there were two busts facing each other, one of FDR and one of Churchill.