Whatever your opinion of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, I think we can all agree that his presidency was unlike any other. Logistically setting it far apart from any President before or since his administration was the simple fact that he was elected to four terms, which is two more than any other President ever would be. His role as our nation’s 32nd leader from 1933-1945 came during some of the most trying times in our country’s history. Through his Fireside Chats, he offered hope to the American people through his direction and intense social reform, many programs of which still resonate today. Then he saw the Allied Powers through nearly all of World War 2, before dying in office and passing the torch to his Vice-President Harry S. Truman. It is little wonder that the public loved him so dearly to elect him even in the gravest of health, having never publically seen the man walk on his two polio-stricken legs.
To me, he ranks as one of our greatest Presidents and thus, it has been an honor and pleasure to visit several of the locations that were relevant to his life:
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 – Birthplace of Franklin D. Roosevelt – Unlike many of the men who would become President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt did not come from humble beginnings. He was born on January 30, 1882, into his parents’ estate home known as Springwood in Hyde Park, New York. There young Franklin would begin a rather privileged lifestyle. The house had been built circa 1800 and was purchased by Roosevelt’s father James in 1866.
After marrying Eleanor in 1905, the future President and his bride moved back into the home where his Mother was still maintaining residence. During his Presidency, the home functioned as both a retreat and a “Summer White House” and often Roosevelt would host visiting dignitaries there. He would deliver his Presidential acceptance speech for all four of his elections from the front terrace of the mansion.
The entrance to the National Historic Site and the Presidential Library and Museum
FDR and Eleanor in the visitor center
In the theatre, pontificating after our introductory video about FDR
Some nice statuary outside the visitor center
Springwood, the birthplace of FDR
In the Roosevelt house, a statue of the Presidence by Prince Paul Troubetzkoy, crafted in 1911. This was left in place by Roosevelt’s daughter Anna.
The Roosevelt parlor, referred to as the Dresden Room
Franklin Roosevelt’s mom referred to this small room as her ‘snuggery’
The Roosevelt Dining Room
Political cartoons on the walls, many poking fun of Great Britain, which Roosevelt would leave up when the King and Queen of England visited
Roosevelt’s wheelchair in the trunk elevator, which was used by Roosevelt following his polio attack at age 39
Franklin Roosevelt’s bedroom, in which he stayed from his youth up through his marriage
The bed and room in which FDR was born on January 30, 1882
The room Franklin and Eleanor shared; Eleanor would later move to a different room in the house
Another view outside Springwood
Face in the cannon on the Springwood porch
Near the estate is located the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the President and First Lady’s gravesite, the visitor center, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill cottage, and the President’s Top Cottage retreat. Due to time constraints, I did not see the latter two during my first visit to sites.
Sunday, July 15, 2012 – The Roosevelt Campobello International Park – One of the most unique – and difficult to visit – Presidential sites is the ‘cottage’ where Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt would often stay on Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Candada. This site is unique in that it is maintained by both the United States and Canadian Governments, and is located just over the border from Lubec, Maine, the easternmost city in the continental United States.
It was in this cottage during August of 1921 when the future President Roosevelt was stricken with polio. The dwelling had been purchased by Roosevelt’s mother Sara in 1909, and was often used for Summer visits by the family. After he was stricken with polio, Mrs. Roosevelt would often come solo or with her children, but FDR did make return visits in 1933, 1936, and 1939.
The Roosevelts at Campbello, with Mama neatly wedged between Franklin and Eleanor
The informal self-guided tour through the mansion was nice and each area had a docent who would answer questions pertaining to the home. It took about a half-hour to tour the place and photographs were permissible in all areas. A special program called Tea with Eleanor was offered to showcase Mrs. Roosevelt’s history, but Bob and I opted to skip that and just explore the house and grounds.
The sign at the entrance to this international park
The visitor’s center to the Roosevelt Campbello International Park
The cornerstone to the ‘reception centre’ was laid by President Lyndon Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister Lester Bowles Pearson on August 21, 1966
The Roosevelt Cottage
The breakfast area…outside of which lies the Lubec Narrows, and beyond that, the United States of America
The cottage dining room
The President’s bedroom
The Campbello kitchen
The rear of the cottage
The Lubec Narrows with the city of Lubec, Maine across the way
In the visitor center museum, a plaster caricature of FDR, said to have been given to Eleanor Roosevelt by Frank Sinatra
Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada or bust!
Sunday, July 9, 2006 – The Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia – Finding the warm natural waters of Warm Springs soothing to his polio-stricken body, Franklin Roosevelt built a home near Pine Mountain in 1932 to use as a Presidential retreat. In all, he would take sixteen trips to the cottage during his presidency, often staying two or three weeks at a time.
On April 12, 1945, while sitting for a portrait, President Franklin Roosevelt suffered a stroke and died of a cerebral hemorrhage and died in his bedroom two hours later. The house has been preserved to look as it did on the day of his death, and the unfinished portrait that was being painted when he died is also on display.
Historical marker outside the Little White House
With Ashleigh at the Little White House in Warm Springs
The table and chair in which FDR was sitting when he was struck with the cerebral hemorrhage
The bedroom and bed – in which Franklin Roosevelt passed away
With the unfinished portrait
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 – The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum – Sadly and frustratingly, my first visit to the FDR Library came at the worst time possible, during it’s first renovation since it’s opening in 1941 (the first Presidential Library to have been built). Therefore I was not able to experience the bulk of the Library.
Construction at the Presidential Library
As close as I could get to the front of the museum in 2012
Entering the one remaining exhibit from the rear of the building
There was one large gallery open which featured a display called The Roosevelts: Public Figures, Private Lives, which took about fifteen minutes to peruse. Naturally, the FDR Library will demand a re-visit, and thankfully presenting my ticket will entitle me to a free one.
The only exhibit on display in 2012
A favorite photo of Eleanor carrying her own bags
Photographic timeline during FDR’s presidency
Cool photo on display of JFK visiting with Eleanor Roosevelt
An FDR inauguration; I’m sandwiched between Roosevelt and Hoover
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 – Grave of Franklin D. Roosevelt – President Roosevelt and the First Lady Eleanor are buried on the grounds of the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, where the Springwood estate and Presidential Library and Museum are located. The grave is rather unassuming and not easy to get close to. Just behind the grave of the President and First Lady is the grave of Fala, the Scottish Terrier who was the first and probably most famous of all of the Presidential pets. He died at age 11 in 1952.
The grave of Fala
Close up of the headstone of the President and First Lady
Proximity of Fala to the Roosevelts
Me and Franklin D.
Continue to the next President…
Return to Wednesday 2012 in New York…
Return to Sunday 2012 in New Brunswick, Canada…
Return to Sunday 2006 in Georgia…
Why do you look slightly unhappy (or is it just slightly awkward?) standing in front of the photo of Eleanor Roosevelt carrying her own bags? Clearly she was capable of it and I rather admire her for doing so.
Peter
May 28th, 2013
I really admire her for it too, and that’s why it’s one of my favorite photos. Apparently I’m just looking awkward for some unknown reason. Perhaps Bob was fiddling with the camera or something.
Brad
May 28th, 2013