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National Historic Site Hyde Park, N. Y. onies in the seventeenth century. Later, many renovations and additions. The old A white marble tombstone, with a slight monument contain no device or inscription many of his ancestors became prominent in central portion, its clapboards removed, is trace of color high-lighting its natural beauty, except the following on the south side: sjlH*.6/*+ Ar/r^^^J^/?— the history of the Hudson Valley, especially covered with stucco and is fronted by a porch has been placed immediately north of the HOME OF Dutchess County. with a sweeping balustrade and a small colon­ grave. Known as "Imperial Danby," it is The first Roosevelt to come to these shores naded portico. On each end a two-story from the same quarry in Vermont that pro­ FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT National Historic Site Hyde Park, New York is believed to have been Claes Martenszen van wing has been erected, giving the whole struc­ duced the marble for the Thomas Jefferson 1882 • 19- Rosenvelt or, translated from the Dutch, ture an H shape. By 1915 it assumed its Memorial in Washington. Plans for the "Nicholas, the son of Martin, from the village present characteristics, and, in accordance tombstone were drawn by President Roose­ ANNA ELEANOR ROOSEVELT THE ONLY LIMIT TO OUR REALIZATION OF TOMORROW WILL BE OUR DOUBTS OF TODAY, velt himself in a memorandum dated Decem­ of 'Rose Field' " on the island of Tholen, near with the late President's wishes, no further 1884 • 19- LET US MOVE FORWARD WITH STRONG AND ACTIVE FAITH.* ber 26, 1937. The exact text of the note, con­ Zeeland. From this immigrant and his son, changes will be made. taining instructions which have been followed Nicholas, were descended both Theodore and When the King and Queen of England and explicitly, reads: THE SITE Franklin Roosevelt. But the history of the other guests were entertained at Hyde Park, two family lines was quite different after the they found themselves in a comfortable That a plain white marble monument—no Pursuant to a Joint Resolution of the Con­ ZSJLT THIS HOME in Hyde Park, cousin and childhood playmate, Eleanor, their seventeenth century. American home filled with the small treasures carving or decoration—to be placed over my gress of July 18, 1939, the home of Franklin Franklin D. Roosevelt was born on January children also grew up, while he embarked on Isaac Roosevelt, whose portrait by Gilbert and knick-knacks so dear to the hearts of all grave, east and west, as follows: Length, D. Roosevelt was designated as a national 30, 1882, and here he was reared. To its his remarkable public career. It was from Stuart today hangs at the east end of the family groups. The interests and way of life 8 feet; width, 4 feet; height, 3 feet. The historic site on January 15, 1944, with the familiar ancestral surroundings he frequently this district that he first campaigned success­ members of the Roosevelt family retaining living room of the home, was the great-great­ of the family are evident immediately upon whole to be set on marble base extending 2 returned for relaxation and refreshment from fully for office, and from 1911 to 1913 repre­ life interests in the home and the 33.23 acres grandfather of Franklin. He was active in entering the large rectangular front hall, with feet out from the monument all around—but the turmoil of public life. He was buried here said base to be no more than 6 inches above included in the gift. After the death of the sented his neighbors as New York State sena­ the Revolutionary War, a member of the its benches, sideboard, pictures and prints, in the family rose garden on April 15, 1945. the ground. President, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and her tor. He was Assistant Secretary of the Navy State constitutional convention, a State sena­ grandfather clock, and built-in glass-covered Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only son from 1913 to 1920, at which time he set forth children waived their life interests, and full tor, and a member of the State convention case for the birds which Franklin collected It is my hope that my dear wife will on title to the area was accepted by the Secretary of James and Sara Roosevelt, who were mar­ from Hyde Park to campaign unsuccessfully called to ratify the Constitution of the United and mounted when he was a boy of eleven. her death be buried there also, and that the of the Interior on November 21, 1945. The ried in 1880. They occupied this home over­ for the Vice Presidency of the United States. States. His son, James, whose portrait is also Opening off the hall are the dining room looking the Hudson River, and the boy grew To this home he came often while waging his in the living room at the west end, was a suc­ and the reception room, both of which over­ up on its beautiful banks. Here he played long fight to conquer the infantile paralysis cessful merchant in New York City. Having look the Hudson River valley countryside. and learned the lore of the woods and fields • East end of the living room showing the Gilbert Stuart portrait of Isaac Roosevelt. contracted in 1921. Here he greeted his served as a State assemblyman and as alder­ But while the dining room is subdued in tone, until he was old enough to go away to school. man, he retired in 1819 to a tract of land just the reception room is light and elaborate. * From an undelivered address written by Frank­ • The Front Porch. • The Grave and Monument. In this home, after his marriage to his distant lin D. Roosevelt the day before his death. north of Poughkeepsie. His son, Isaac, whose Often called the "Dresden Room" because of portrait hangs in the dining room, was a doc­ neighbors in 1928 and 1930 after he was twice its delicately wrought Dresden china chande­ tor who settled in the township of Hyde Park. central section of the house. And at the end • The Roosevelt home substantially as it appeared in 1882 when Franklin D. Roosevelt was born. elected Governor of New York. During his lier and matching mantel set, it is filled with His son, James, was a lawyer and businessman. of the hallway, in the stone wing over the three successive terms as the thirty-second mementoes of the wide travels and interests After the death of his first wife, James mar­ library, are the bedrooms of Franklin D. President of the United States and for part of Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt. ried, in 1880, Sara Delano, mother of the Roosevelt and his wife. of a fourth term—the only man ever to be The south hallway leads past the "Snug­ President. Through her father and grand­ so honored in the history of the United gery," Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt's sitting father, who had been active traders with THE GRAVE States—Hyde Park remained his family home. room, also filled with her treasures, to the China, the Roosevelt home was filled with In accordance with his expressed wish, his A small garden northeast of the Home, the many Chinese objects that remain today. large living room, or library, which occupies body was returned for burial here, following the whole lower floor of the south wing. In almost completely surrounded by a century- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was named his sudden death at Warm Springs, Ga., on old hemlock hedge, was chosen by Franklin D. after a great-uncle, was born to Sara and this cheerful and spacious atmosphere the April 12, 1945. family met, played, read, and entertained. Roosevelt as his burial place. Here, on April James Roosevelt at Hyde Park, on January 15, 1945, he was laid to rest in the southern At Hyde Park the American people now Between the two fireplaces, one at each end, 30, 1882. section of a large rectangular grass plot with a may visit his family home, and the surround­ a profusion of comfortable sofas and chairs, border of perennial flowers. The "Rose ings in which he chose to live, and here they THE HOME tables, bookcases, flowers, and plants fills the Garden," as the President and his family may come to understand Franklin D. Roose­ room. At the edge of a gently rolling plateau over­ knew it, derived its name from the roses that velt, the man. looking the Hudson River there had been On the second floor there is the same evi­ fill the eastern half. A rose garden was tra­ dence of livable attributes. The small bed­ FAMILY BACKGROUND built, about 1826, a clapboarded frame house. ditional with the family, for the surname It was this building that was purchased by room that was used by Franklin as a boy, the Roosevelt was adopted from the Dutch "field Franklin D. Roosevelt was descended from James Roosevelt in 1867 and thus it became guest bedrooms, occupied at various times by of roses" in the ancestral land and perpetu­ men and women of many nationalities— the birthplace and home of his son, Franklin. the many notables who visited the Roosevelts, ated in the family coat of arms, three roses on Dutch, English, Swedish, French Huguenot, The home underwent many changes with and the room in which Franklin was born are a shield, surmounted by a casque and three and German—who settled the American Col­ the passing of the years, for it is a product of situated along the hallway bisecting the old feathers. formal opening of the home to the public visited by the public every day, except Mon­ dates from dedication ceremonies held on the day, from 10 a. m. until 5 p. m. Detailed grounds, April 12, 1946, the first anniversary information may be obtained from members of the President's death. of the staff on duty at the site. Adjacent to the national historic site is the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, a deposi­ HOW TO REACH THE SITE tory for the papers, books, and other historical The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt Na­ material acquired by the late President, and administered by the Archivist of the United tional Historic Site is on the New York- States. The museum section of the library Albany Post Road (Route U. S. 9), 2 miles is open to the public during the same hours as south of Hyde Park, N. Y., and 4 miles north the home, and many pictures, models, and art of Poughkeepsie. Eighty miles distant from objects accumulated by Franklin D. Roose­ New York City, the site can be reached most velt are on exhibition. conveniently by automobile over the Hen- Admission to the gravesite and grounds is drick Hudson Parkway, the Sawmill River free. However, there is a charge of 25 cents Parkway, and the Taconic State Parkway. for persons 12 years old or over at both the Approaches from the west side of the Hudson home and the library-museum. Members of River are by the Mid-Hudson Bridge at educational groups under 18 years of age, Poughkeepsie or the Rip Van Winkle Bridge accompanied by responsible adults, are ad­ at Catskill. Railroad connections can be mitted to both buildings on payment of Fed­ made on the New York Central at Pough­ eral tax. keepsie. ADMINISTRATION FACILITIES FOR VISITORS The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt Na­ The site includes the home and the grave tional Historic Site is one of many areas ad­ and various outbuildings, such as barns and a ministered by the National Park Service of the greenhouse. The home and grave may be United States Department of the Interior. • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Bedroom.

• The Each area has been selected for preservation Monday, from 10 a. m. until 5 p. m. Com­ Reception for the American people because of its unique munications relating to either of these areas Room, scenic, historic, or scientific value. Other should be addressed to the Superintendent, or the "Dresden areas commemorating the lives of former Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Room." Presidents of the United States, in addition to Hyde Park, N. Y. a group of well-known memorials in the Dis­ trict of Columbia, include George Washing­ ton Birthplace National Monument in Vir­ ginia, Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park in Kentucky, Andrew Johnson National Monument in Tennessee, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, and Adams Mansion National Historic Site in Massachusetts. Administered jointly with the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site United States is Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Department of the Interior the entrance gate to which is just north of the town of Hyde Park on the New York-Albany J. A. KRUG, SECRETARY Post Road (Route 9). This impressive man­ sion, together with 211 acres of grounds, is NATIONAL PARK SERVICE also open to the public every day, except NEWTON B. DRURY, DIRECTOR REVISED 1949 IS—48269-4 u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Othce, Washington 25, D. C. Price 5 cents. National Historic Site Hyde Park, N. Y.