32) Franklin D. Roosevelt*

Franklin D. Roosevelt

32nd President

4 terms

1882-1945

Democrat

Died while in office

FDR established the "New Deal", it created jobs, built roads, and provided electricity to rural areas

Led the U.S. through most of World War II

Created the Social Security System

Birthplace and Home: Hyde Park, NY

FDR was born here on January 30th, 1882. It is named "Springwood".

Home: New Brunswick, Canada

FDR lived here for most summers from 1883-1921. It is named "Campobello".

Home: Warm Springs, GA

FDR lived here from 1932-1945. While posing for a portrait here, he collapsed and died of a massive stroke. The cottage and adjacent museum have many original items from FDR's time, including the famed Unfinished portrait of FDR. It is called "The Little White House".

Library, Museum, and Gravesite: Hyde Park, NY

My story

Upon arriving at the Library and Gravesite, we browsed around and saw the gardens, birthplace, Library and Museum. Unfortunately, we were not able to stay too long. After we had seen the cars, signs, and busts, we were unable to recognize the grave, and had to ask some people for confirmation, only to find out that it was the actual grave after all. We came at the perfect time of the year, as the rose garden was in full bloom, and it was majestic, a true beauty, a spectacle of flowers and trees. Upon the visit, I did not know that the famous presidential pet, Fala, was buried near FDR, and so I did not think to look. I would have loved to stay and explore more, but we still had to see 2 more graves, which would take us farther south, and into the Long Island area.

FDR is the first President we saw that has his own Presidential Library.

This is me by one of FDR's old cars.

"Freedom From Fear."

This is me by the statue labeled "Freedom From Fear".

FDR bust #1

This is me standing by the head bust of FDR, outside of his library.

Garden

This is me by some of the flowers in FDR's garden. The garden was beautiful!

The Grave

This is me standing (as close as possible), by FDR's grave.

Dad and FDR

This is my dad by FDR's grave.

FDR's grave

FDR is buried here, at the sight of the beautiful rose garden. At first we thought he was buried under the marble grave marker, but I later learned that he was buried in front of it.

Rose "Gate"

This is me standing under the flower trellis at FDR's gravesite.

FDR's Home

This was where FDR lived before becoming President.

Map

A map of the library site.

FDR Bust #2

This was the second head bust of FDR.

FDR Sign

This was the sign at the entrance of the library and gravesite.

Gallery

Return Trip

On July 15, 2009, we returned to the Hyde Park area to pick out the granite for our new countertops, and we decided to re-visit the FDR Gravesite, as well as the Library and Museum. I had been wanting to do so for a long time, as we had never been into the museum, or seen Fala's grave. I did not know what to expect, as this was also our first time inside a Presidential Museum. The day started out with picking out the granite slab for the countertops, and then took an unexpected turn when we discovered George Washington's Headquarters a few blocks down, so of course we visited that as well. Then, we arrived at the gravesite. Inside the museum, I was quite embarrassed, as the flash on my camera kept on turing on and off (no flash photography is alowed in the museum), and I had no clue what was going on. It was the best trip we had been on, and the first trip of the summer of 2009. It was especially beautiful this time, as more of the flowers in the garden had bloomed. If you email me, I can send you a video of the gardens that was taken when I visited the gravesite this time.

Sign

This sign was outside of the Historic Site.

Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center

This is the visitor center at the Estate.

Sculptures

These are the bronze sculptures of Franklin and Eleanor outside of the Wallace Visitor Center.

Library and Museum

These were some of the furnishings we saw in the Library and Museum.

This is the desk FDR used as President.

This Torah symbolizes FDR's work to end the Holocaust.

This is some of the furnishings FDR had in his home.

These are some of Fala's things, they include a dog bowl, a rubber ball, and toy foot, as well as some of his collars.

The museum contains much Fala memorabilia, shown here is a plate, some pins, a necklace, and a dog tag, as well as many pictures taken during his time at Springwood.

This bust of Eleanor Roosevelt is also located in the FDR Museum.

This ring was given to Eleanor Roosevelt by Franklin as an engagement ring. Note the size of the diamond!

This necklace was also given to Eleanor Roosevelt by FDR, it is made from tiger claws he obtained over the years while hunting.

This photo was taken sometime from 1960-1962, it shows Eleanor Roosevelt with then U.S. President JFK.

This White House China was used while FDR was President.

I have no idea what this is or why it was in the museum, but it must have something to do with FDR's family!

This was one of FDR's old cars, it is different than the ones we saw outside last time we went.

FDR wore these braces to help him stand better, these were worn during his inauguration.

This cane and crutches were used by FDR around Springwood.

FDR was also a gun collector, this is one of his guns in the museum.

FDR was an avid golfer, shown here are his golf clubs and golf club carrier.

FDR also won a few trophies as a golfer.

This is a book of poems given to Eleanor Roosevelt by FDR.

I have no idea what this is, but it was given to Eleanor Roosevelt as a wedding gift.

This toy horse was given to FDR as a child.

This was the seat FDR sat in when he rode horses.

This is a journal kept by the Roosevelt Family. I can't remember who kept it.

This was a pot made for FDR. Note how it is not blurry like most pictures, because the camera malfunctioned and turned on the flash.

This lead bullet was fired at FDR as an assassination attempt, it wounded William Sinnott.

This HUGE book looks like a family Bible.

This microphone and radio set were used by FDR during his famous 'Fireside Chats'.

During the Great Deppression, Americans often wrote letters to FDR, these are just a mere few of the hundreds of letters that occupy this large room.

These are another set of braces worn by FDR.

This wooden ship model was located in the museum.

The Grave

The grave marker looked no different then when we saw it before, except this time, I knew where the actual grave was, it is the grass lump located in front of the marker with an American flag at the left. Eleanor's grave is the other lump. The grass covered graves are a fitting addition to the beautiful Rose Garden.

Sundial Column

I finally found the sundial column, burial site of Fala, and Chief, his German Shepherd. I was not able to see the markers at it's base, but in the picture, if you look closely to the left, you can see a small white thing, that is Fala's grave.

Individual Graves of Fala and Chief

These markers are located at the base of the sundial.

The grave of Fala, the famous 'First Dog', as he was called.

This picture of Fala was taken in 1949, he is shown overlooking his master's grave in the rose garden, Eleanor's grave is not shown, as she died in 1962.

Memorial: Washington, D.C.

Dedicated in 1997, it features FDR and his dog, Fala.