National Park Service Roosevelt-Vanderbilt U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Sites Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site General Management Plan 2010 Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site General Management Plan top cottage home of fdr vanderbilt mansion val-kill Department of the Interior National Park Service Northeast Region Boston, Massachusetts 2010 Contents 4 Message from the Superintendent Background 7 Introduction 10 Purpose of the General Management Plan 10 Overview of the National Historic Sites 23 Associated Resources Outside of Park Ownership 26 Related Programs, Plans, and Initiatives 28 Developing the Plan Foundation for the Plan 33 Purpose and Significance of the National Historic Sites 34 Interpretive Themes 40 The Need for the Plan The Plan 45 Goals for the National Historic Sites 46 Overview 46 Management Objectives and Potential Actions 65 Management Zoning 68 Cost Estimates 69 Ideas Considered but Not Advanced 71 Next Steps Appendices 73 Appendix A: Record of Decision 91 Appendix B: Legislation 113 Appendix C: Historical Overview 131 Appendix D: Glossary of Terms 140 Appendix E: Treatment, Use, and Condition of Primary Historic Buildings 144 Appendix F: Visitor Experience & Resource Protection (Carrying Capacity) 147 Appendix G: Section 106 Compliance Requirements for Future Undertakings 149 Appendix H: List of Preparers Maps 8 Hudson River Valley Context 9 Hyde Park Context 12 Historic Roosevelt Family Estate 14 FDR Home and Grounds 16 Val-Kill and Top Cottage 18 Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site 64 Management Zoning Message from the Superintendent On April 12, 1946, one year after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s death, his home in Hyde Park, New York, was opened to the public as a national his- toric site. The few National Park Service personnel assigned there were hard- pressed to accommodate the streams of visitors who wanted to see the home. Managing these crowds might have been an overwhelming task for this first band of employees, but at least they did not have to worry much about “inter- pretation”— the National Park Service term for explaining the meaning of the park to visitors. The people who waited in line in 1946, and long afterward, needed no explanation of who Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt were, or their place in American history. For many years the American public had been absorbed with the lives of the Roosevelts and, although they often disagreed vehemently about particular policies, to some degree Americans viewed the Roosevelts as part of an extended family. This remained largely true through Eleanor Roosevelt’s lifetime. Since her death in 1962, this familiarity has been steadily disappearing. In 2012 we will observe the 130th anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s birth and the 50th anniversary of Eleanor Roosevelt’s death. Each year the number of people who have personal recollection of the Roosevelts’ lives diminishes. Yet FDR took great care to preserve his legacy, and the National Park Service is committed to operating its three historic sites in Hyde Park—Home of FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill, and Vanderbilt Mansion—in perpetuity, as with all units of the national park system. Even as the Roosevelts recede in memory, the issues they grappled with remain as timely as the latest news. The Roosevelt parks provide a lens through which we can examine political questions that remain vital. Changing conditions call attention to the enduring Roosevelt legacy in unexpected ways, as the economic crisis that began in 2008 and its frequent references to the Great Depression remind us. One of the criti- cal issues we face is how to use park resources to demonstrate the continuing relevance of the Roosevelts and Vanderbilts, and their relationship to these places, for generations who have no personal experience with that time. This is one of several challenges that confront us in the management of the three Hyde Park sites, and is among the reasons a new general manage- ment plan is needed. Although constructing a management plan can be a 4 People lined up to tour the FDR Home in 1946 lengthy process, it offers an exceptional opportunity to re-examine the parks from the perspective of greatly changed conditions and to make decisions based on that new information. The plan that follows represents the sustained thought and effort of many people, both in the National Park Service and among members of the public. It is intended to set out a course of action that will convey the importance of these sites to a new audience in a new century. As we proceed with the implementation of the general management plan, we look forward to working closely with our neighbors, partners, and community members to uphold and advance the enduring legacy of these spe- cial places. Sincerely, Sarah Olson Superintendent Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites 5 Background Introduction Hyde Park, New York, is home to three national historic sites that together attract more than half a million visitors every year: the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site; Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (also known as Val-Kill); and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. The sites are combined into a single administrative unit: Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, under one superintendent and operated by one staff, but each of the sites was established by separate legislation and has its own national significance. The properties compose three of the approximately 390 Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites areas that make up the national park system. Although they are formally desig- attract more than 500,000 visitors per year nated as national historic sites, these areas may be considered—and are fre- quently referred to in this document—as national parks. Together the parks include over 1,100 acres of federally owned land along the east bank of the Hudson River, along with two fully furnished mansions, 40 historic buildings, 14 miles of roads and trails, 35 acres of forest plantations set out by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, five historic gardens, nearly 100 acres of open fields, and over 25,000 objects and artifacts. The parks are supported by an annual budget of over $5 million and the work of hundreds of volunteers. Hyde Park is located in the central Hudson River Valley, some 80 miles north of New York City, the largest metropolitan area in the United States. The two closest urban centers are the City of Poughkeepsie, which borders Hyde Park to the south, and the state capital, Albany, some 70 miles to the north. Named by Native Americans Muhheakantuck, meaning “great waters in constant motion” or “river that flows two ways,” the Hudson River stretches 315 miles, from its source in Lake Tear of the Clouds in the Adirondack Mountains to its mouth in Upper New York Bay. It is a tidal estuary for over 150 miles, which is why it appears to flow both ways from New York Harbor to the federal dam at Troy. With its verdant landscapes and scenic views of the Shawangunk and Catskill Mountains to the west and the Taconic range to the east, the Hudson River Valley has inspired artists and authors for generations. It has also been home to entrepreneurs, attracted by the proximity to New Hyde Park, New York, is located in the central York City. In addition to the Roosevelts and Vanderbilts, the mid-Hudson Hudson River Valley region has been home to other prominent families, such as the Livingstons, the 7 The inset map below depicts the primary tourist attractions in the Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. Absolutely Must See Highly Recommended Special Interest Rankings were taken directly from the NHA website, www.hudsonrivervalley.com. Hudson River Valley Context 8 Hyde Park Context Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site Historic Roosevelt Family Estate (NPS authorized boundary) Historic Vanderbilt Estate Parks and Protected Land Proposed Future Development Historic Forest Plantation Water Hyde Park Trail Top Cottage Trail Other Trail Proposed Location for Hudson Valley Welcome Center Background 9 Montgomerys, the Millses, and telegraph pioneer Samuel F.B. Morse, who also established “country places” along the east bank of the river in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Today, many of these estates are preserved and are open for public enjoyment, making this section of the Hudson Valley famous as the “Great Estates Region.” The region is also host to numerous colleges and universities. Notable nearby institutions include the Culinary Institute of America (2 miles to the south) and Marist, Bard, and Vassar Colleges. Purpose of the General Management Plan The main function of a general management plan, after providing a clear defi- nition of a park’s purpose and management direction, is to guide subsequent planning and management. The National Park Service (NPS) seeks to have all parks operate under approved general management plans. This ensures that park managers effectively and efficiently carry out the mission of the NPS: The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspira- tion of this and future generations. The service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. A general management plan describes and explains a park’s resource condi- tions and visitor experiences. It takes the long view, 20 years into the future, and is meant to be a policy-level guide to park managers.