Hyde Park, NY

Last night we drove to Poughkeepsie, NY near Hyde Park where Franklin Delano Roosevelt spent most of his life.  We toured Top Cottage, high on a hill with the Hudson River in the background.  He built this home as a quiet, secluded, comfortable place to bring friends, family, and dignitaries alike to escape the hustle and bustle of both DC and NYC.  King George and Queen Elizabeth had a hot dog picnic with FDR at Top Cottage at the cusp of the outbreak of WWII. 

Sitting at FDR's desk at Top Cottage

Top Cottage

Our workshop for the morning was held while sitting in the rocking chair on the porch at Top Cottage.  Serene! Then we hiked down the hill to Val-Kill.

We also toured Eleanor’s home, Val-Kill, where she enjoyed entertaining friends away from her mother-in-law’s influence.  Eleanor loved Sarah, but she wanted to be able to dictate her own home without constantly seeking approval from the family matriarch.  I learned the Eleanor was Theodore Roosevelt’s niece.  Teddy even gave her away at her wedding since Eleanor’s father died when she was ten.

Val-Kill

Franklin’s presidential library was the only library to be used by a president while still in office.  It’s therefore built at Springwood, the family home, and it’s just beautiful.  Only a few miles from the Vanderbilt Mansion, both home have stunning views of the Hudson River from hill tops. 

Summerwood

Erica and me at Summerwood.

 

Gorgeous Vanderbilt Mansion...Rhubarb tours claims that the Vanderbilts really  made their  fortune from the goats on the property...

Fala was the Roosevelts’ Scottie made famous when politicians and reporters tried to defame Roosevelt by creating a story that Fala had been left in Alaska and that a Navy ship had been sent to fetch him at taxpayer expense.  Fala was apparently furious that he was attacked so viciously by the public.  Poor Fala. 

This area is just gorgeous!  Hills and green are everywhere, which is so different from home right now with the drought.  Such a treat!