August 12, 2008

August 12, 2008

From Fishkill, NY we make the half-hour drive north to Hyde Park, once known as Millionaires Row for the mansions lining the Hudson River bluffs. Two mansions are maintained by the National Park System. The first is the Home of Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site. We take the hour-long tour of the house. We have seen lots of old mansions but this one is special because FDR left it in his will to the gov’t. It is simply decorated and looks just like it was when he last slept here.

Next door to the FDR home is his Presidential Library and Museum. It is also very interesting. FDR had a very unusual life and Presidency. He grew up an only child of very rich and doting parents. His political success was a combination of skill and lucky timing. Incredibly he became New York governor and President after coming down with a debilitating case of infantile polio at the mature age of 39. The paralysis should have killed his career aspirations. FDR went on to become president at the height of America’s worst economic time. Without his leadership we could have easily descended into anarchy, dictatorship, or communism. FDR brought hope. Lucky for me he also brought back beer with the repeal of Prohibition. Unfortunately he instituted an alphabet soup of intrusive gov’t programs. Intended to be only temporary many have lasted beyond the economic emergency. For example, over seventy years later we are still paying farmers not to plant crops. FDR’s biggest legacy is probably his success at bringing home victory during WWII. In addition to ridding the world of two terrible regimes, the war finally ended the Great Depression.

The second Mansion in Hyde Park is the Vanderbilt Historical Site. A neighbor of FDR, the home was given to the gov’t after the owner couldn’t find a buyer for the property at the asking price of a mere $200,000 during the Great Depression. We take a tour of this very large mansion. Like FDR’s home it is special because it also has not changed since the 30’s. But unlike the Roosevelts, the Vanderbilt meant to flaunt their wealth and it is a prime example of gilded age décor.

Before leaving Hyde Park we visit the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. There we take a short tour of this cottage that Eleanor stayed in. The “big house” belonged to FDR’s mother until her death in 1941. Eleanor did not get along with her mother-in-law and had this large but simple cottage built a few miles away. There is nothing special about it and it seems more like somebody’s pet project that the NPS has gotten stuck with.

Aimee and I went through all these Hyde Park sites in whirlwind fashion. It wasn’t our choice, but like Connecticut, this area has no RV parks close. Late in the day we make our way back to Fishkill for the night.