Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, the first of its kind, offers an unparalleled look into the presidency that reshaped America during the Great Depression and World War II. Immersive exhibits, rare artifacts, and personal stories vividly bring history to life.

MUST-DO CHECKLIST

• Tour the Roosevelt Home (Springwood) – Step inside FDR’s lifelong home, where guided ranger tours reveal stories of his family life and political beginnings in Hyde Park.
• Explore the New Permanent Exhibits – Interactive touch screens, immersive “Fireside Chat” environments, and historic artifacts reveal how FDR led America through crisis and change.
• Step Inside FDR’s Study – Visit the only presidential library ever used by a sitting president and see his actual desk, where he prepared his famous radio addresses.
• See the Behind-the-Scenes Collection – Peek into glass-walled storerooms displaying treasures like FDR’s 1936 Ford Phaeton, model ships, New Deal art, and gifts of state.
• Visit the Roosevelt Gravesites – Reflect in the Rose Garden where Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are buried, accompanied by a bronze statue of their beloved Scottish terrier, Fala.

Recommended Reading: FDR offers a clear, compelling look at Franklin Roosevelt’s life—his political rise, struggles with polio, major decisions during the Depression and World War II, and the personal relationships that shaped him.

Photo Credit: Destination Dutchess