Tour the home and grounds of a great American president
One of the pleasures of living in the Hudson Valley is the sense of history preserved by numerous historic houses. One favorite is Springwood, the vast farm and birthplace of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in Hyde Park, N.Y.
The house was built by the President’s parents, James and Sara Delano Roosevelt as a Victorian cottage. Later, it house was remodeled in the style of regional Dutch stone houses with Neoclassical flourishes, and enlarged by the President’s mother.
Mint green shutters are a unique color at Springwood.
Sara Roosevelt decorated the house in her taste, the dark style of the early 20th century. It’s hardly a showplace — particularly compared to the neighboring Vanderbilt Mansion on the same road — even though the King and Queen of England stayed there during a visit. It was viewed as the family’s beloved farm. Currently, it’s a bit sad to see it less than well preserved.
The first floor has a huge paneled library with a lovely rug and traditional furniture.
The music or Dresden room combines chintz, an Aubusson rug and Sara Delano Roosevelt's Chinese ceramics. She lived in China as a child.
It’s fascinating to see bedroom furnishings of this period. Some of the President’s clothes hang in his tiny closet, large rooms had very little light, and the stupendous views from the bluff overlooking the Hudson River were largely blocked out by layers of heavy curtains.
Upstairs "pink" bedroom suite where King George and Queen Elizabeth stayed when they visited Hyde Park.
President Roosevelt's boyhood room.
Sara Delano Roosevelt's bed, where the President was born.
The gardens are lovely, the greenhouse is 100 years old, and the stables were beautifully built. A large library on the grounds houses the study where the President worked during his term in office as well as memorabilia from both the President and his wife Eleanor. History buffs would certainly enjoy this tour.
Rare view of the kitchen, recently refurbished. Note the large refrigerator, which was kept cool with blocks of ice.
The laundry house is just out the back door.
Inside the laundry house in the days before electric or gas dryers.
The 100-year-old greenhouse is still in use.
One corner of the vast rose garden.
A charming cottage garden surrounds the rose garden.
The stable housed race horses at Springwood.
Names of the horses are still on the elaborate stalls. Note the hardwood floor and ceiling. This is definitely a luxury stable.
A rear view of Springwood which faces the Hudson River. The ramp from the second story is where the house tours exit.
One of my favorite books is an intimate glimpse of the life with the Roosevelts in the White House during World War II. Titled “No Ordinary Time,” it was written by Doris Kearns Goodwin more than a dozen years ago and anyone who is intrigued by Springwood and wishes to learn more might enjoy reading it as much as I did.
My dad is a tour guide there! After retiring, he started volunteering as a tour guide, and his tour is awesome! All of the park rangers tell our siblings that he gives the BEST tour.
If you are ever going there again, you should call ahead and see when Dick Prenot is giving tours. You won’t regret it!