Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
NY
About Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Visit the home of Eleanor Roosevelt. Here, Franklin and Eleanor entertained friends, the press, activists, and official state visitors in the relaxed atmosphere of Val-Kill. Explore the Roosevelt saga in the homes of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, the exhibits at the nation’s first Presidential Library, and over a thousand acres of gardens and trails.
Things To Do
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Top Cottage Trail
This trail takes you to the highest point on the Hyde Park Trails. When you reach the summit, you will have made the same climb that kings and queens and a host of foreign leaders made during some of the most critical days of the 20th century. Top Cottage, FDR’s humble hilltop getaway hosted pivotal meetings that shaped world history. It also provided guests with a dramatic vantage point from which to view the natural beauty of the Hudson River Valley, FDR’s cherished home.
Stone Cottage Visitor Center
Stone Cottage Visitor Center and Exhibit
Explore the FDR Presidential Library Exhibits
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is independently operated and maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency.
Close to Home
Eleanor Roosevelt: Close to Home is an overview of the inspirational life of Eleanor Roosevelt and highlights her dedication as champion of social justice and racial equality. The film, which won the United Nations Association Film Festival Award in 2013, introduces viewers to Val-Kill, the home of this extraordinary American who became a world leader in human rights and creator of the UDHR.
View the Park Film: Rendezvous with History
The park film runs daily at the Henry Wallace Visitor & Education Center. The 140-seat theater features a high-definition film written and produced by Tom Spain Productions. The twenty minute film, "Rendezvous with History," features interviews with two of the Roosevelt grandchildren, Curtis Roosevelt and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as historic footage. There is no fee to see the film.
Eleanor's Walk
Get to know Eleanor Roosevelt—wife, mother, and grandmother; Hyde Park neighbor, activist, and diplomat—as you hike the paths she walked daily for recreation and quiet contemplation. See the historic buildings that hosted family gatherings as well as powerful dialog among national leaders. Explore the woodland trails that inspired many of Eleanor’s famous My Day columns.
Available Activities
Weather
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40°F to 70°F. Rain is not uncommon. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 70° F to 100° F.
Humidity can be high throughout the summer months with periods of rain. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40° F to 70° F. Peak leaf season is mid-October.
Rain is not uncommon. Winter: Temperatures usually range from 30° F to 50°F. Ice, Freezing Rain and Snow are not uncommon.
Getting There
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill) is located in the town of Hyde Park, NY, approximately 5 miles north of Poughkeepsie along Route 9G, midway between New York City and Albany, about a 1.5 hour drive from either direction. Located on the east bank of the Hudson River, the park is easily reached by either the Taconic State Parkway or Route 9, and the New York State Thruway west of the Hudson River.
Plan Your Visit
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Val-Kill Cottage Tours
Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill Cottage is open in the summer and fall months by guided tour only. Tickets for tours are FREE, but tour spaces are limited and distributed in-person on a first come, first served basis due to the intimate size of Eleanor's home. The first tour starts at 9:30 AM. The last tour starts at 4:00 PM. Tours begin at the Stone Cottage Visitor Center. Tour times can vary depending on the season, special groups, or unforeseen circumstances.
Park Grounds, Gardens, and Trails
Park hours vary by season. The grounds are open daily, except for New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Tour times of Eleanor's cottage are different than general park hours. Please look under "Val-Kill Cottage Tours" for current tour hours.
