The Legacy of Hyde Park!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the incredible legacy of Hyde Park in New York! I reached out and was lucky enough to ask the Education Specialist of the Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum; Jeffrey Urbin, a few questions!

Hyde Park, New York, is a small Hudson River town with a big place in American history thanks to its most famous resident, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The 32nd President of the United States was born there in 1882 and spent much of his life on the family estate. Hyde Park was not just his birthplace; it was his lifelong anchor, where he returned during the most turbulent times of his presidency. From the quiet rolling hills and the Hudson’s steady current, Roosevelt drew strength as he led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. His connection to Hyde Park was so strong that he chose to be buried there, alongside his wife Eleanor, ensuring the town would forever be linked to his legacy.

The estate itself witnessed some of FDR’s biggest moments. It was from Hyde Park that he campaigned for the presidency in 1932, and it was at the family home where he hosted world leaders like Winston Churchill and King George VI. In fact, the 1939 visit by the King and Queen of England marked the first time a reigning British monarch had set foot on American soil; a groundbreaking moment in U.S.-British relations that took place on Hyde Park grounds. Roosevelt’s ties to the town were deeply personal, too: he experimented with farming, designed parts of the estate himself, and often drove guests around the property in his specially outfitted car, even after polio left him unable to walk.

Today, visitors can experience this history firsthand at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, which opened in 1941 as the nation’s first presidential library. Unlike many presidents who waited until after leaving office, Roosevelt built and dedicated his library while still in the White House, seeing it as a gift to the public. The museum contains everything from his personal papers and wartime correspondence to campaign memorabilia and even his beloved stamp collection. It is also one of the few places where visitors can view exhibits on both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, whose humanitarian work after his death further cemented the family’s impact on American life.

Hyde Park is filled with fascinating fun facts that make it more than just a historic landmark. Roosevelt was the first sitting president to vote in his hometown polling place, and he often joked about being “just a country squire” despite running the nation. His funeral in 1945 brought thousands to Hyde Park’s usually quiet streets, a reminder of how a small town became the setting for moments of global importance. Today, the Roosevelt Library and Museum, along with the preserved family estate, keep that history alive, drawing visitors from around the world who want to walk the same grounds where FDR shaped his vision of America. Hyde Park is a rare place where national history and local heritage come together, making it an essential stop for anyone who wants to understand the man who led the U.S. through its darkest hours.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: What is the most important thing most people don’t know about Hyde Park?

Jeffrey Urbin: Hyde Park was the birthplace and home and burial site of our nation's 32nd President. He always considered it home. He was the only 4 term president and saw us through the Great Depression and World War II.

Giancarlo: What is the most unique or rare item in your collection, and what makes it significant?

Jeffrey Urbin: Different folks would have different answers to that of course. But for me it would be the Oval Office Desk that he used in the White House. It was used by Hoover, FDR and then Truman for a short period of time. It has seen (and been part of) a lot of history.

Giancarlo: What is something most people don’t know about FDR?

Jeffrey Urbin: FDR was very superstitious. He was afraid of the number 13. He died on Thursday, April 12th...perhaps trying to avoid "traveling" on Friday the 13th?

Giancarlo: What programs or exhibits are you most excited about in the near future?

Jeffrey Urbin: We have a very fun exhibit currently called 'Signature Moments' featuring scores of famous people from Shirley Temple to Mussolini.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Jeffrey Urbin: Pay attention to what you pay attention to.

The Museum: https://www.nps.gov/hofr/index.htm

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo