franklin d. roosevelt presidential library and museum

This library is a must-see for any history buff. The exhibits do a nice job capturing a larger than life man. Like most presidential libraries, there is some information provided about FDR's early life, but the main focus is (not surprisingly) the Great Depression and WWII. The exhibits are informative and thorough. Depending on your level of interest and desire to read everything, a visit will take anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours.

The museum was great. I just hadn't realized how much of import there was to see - 4 terms (ok, one partial) as president through the Great Depression and WWII, not to mention how he dealt with polio and the relationship with his equally interesting wife. There is a lot to see and read about - you could really spend hours here if you take the time at every exhibit.

Excellent museum to visit and understanding of Franklyn Roosevelt's presidency and life with Elenor. I'd recommend this visit to family and teachers.

What a great treasure of history. Did not know it was so close, but glad I paid a visit.Excellent addition to Val-Kill- the Eleanor Roosevelt Cottage located a few minutes away.

historic, interesting, really great museum. there is so much to see in this museum- great descriptions of events, photos, videos, original objects, and interactive. Spent over 2 hours here and could have stayed longer.

This was not as extensive as I would have thought. There were some excellent exhibits, including a special exhibit on Madeline Albright's pins, which frankly, was more interesting than the library's contents.

When we took a family vacation to upstate NY for Christmas, the rain encouraged some indoor activities so we decided to visit the FDR presidential library and museum. The museum was fascinating including information about FDR's and Eleanor's formative years, years in office, and years in which Eleanor left her mark after FDR passed away. If you are a history museum goer you will enjoy this museum. The grounds are expansive including their house and cemetery. We didn't get there in time for the house tour but it also looked interesting.

It's only an hour north of NYC. Really, you should go. You really should! It's been recently renovated, and in the dead of winter in mid-February everything was up and running, the place was full, and the tours were booked. The museum houses his hand-driven car, personal letters/memos about WWII, and the Depression. They also have a giant paper mache of the super-creepy sphinx that became the opposition's symbol to his unprecedented run for third term. And places to sit and hear fireside chats. His oval office desk, the way it looked in the White House. His private study. It's really a pleasant experience. And don't forget the Delano home! It's a must. See where the King and Queen ate hot dogs. Where FDR and Churchill discussed foreign policy. Where poor Eleanor was forced to shack up. You will feel like you've visited the Roosevelts after this tour. Also, their gravesites are on the property. Go in the winter to skip the crowds. Go in the summer/fall to see the trees.

The first presidential library still stands apart from the others, perhaps because it's steps away from Roosevelt's home and gravesite and because he himself had a hand in the building's design. The exhibits are comprehensive and yet still seem like they're only hitting the highlights, given how event-filled his four terms were. You really come away appreciating how much the country and the world changed during those fateful years, and how even today so much of our lives are affected by decisions made by Roosevelt and his team decades ago. The background about his polio and artifacts like the leg braces he wore make his achievements that much more impressive. The new visitor's center is an elegant addition to the complex and offers a pleasant cafe.

The museum was full of interesting memorabilia and many displays were interactive. The short films were interesting. We spent an afternoon there but could have spent an entire day!

While staying in Fishkill with my girlfriend and her family to attend a wedding, her mother handed me a brochure for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. I had no idea that his presidential library was located nearby! On our last day in New York, we had plenty of time before we needed to head back to JFK, giving us the opportunity to visit.Tickets for a guided tour and entrance to the museum are $18, and are valid for 48 hours. That’s useful if you’re staying nearby and want to return to see things you didn’t have time for on the first day, but that wasn’t an option for us.Tours are guided by a park ranger and last about 90 minutes. Our guide was knowledgeable, very animated, and did a great job. I did take a picture of her, but unfortunately don’t remember her name.During the tour we stopped to see FDR's ice yachts, walked by the entrance to the library and museum, paused at the rose garden where he and Eleanor Roosevelt are buried, and then entered his home.Inside FDR's home we saw his living room and dining room, his boyhood bedroom, rooms used by visiting dignitaries, and his and Eleanor's bedrooms. The tour ends when you leave the house, at which point you’re free to return to roam the grounds or enter the library and museum for a self-guided tour.Unfortunately, we only had time for a cursory walk through the library and museum. In terms of sheer size, though, the FDR presidential library and museum is dwarfed by Ronald Reagan’s presidential library in Simi Valley, California. Although I didn’t care for Reagan the man or Reagan the president, I must admit that his presidential library is extremely impressive.Nevertheless, the FDR presidential library is no doubt an important resource for historians, and the exhibits in the museum were all fairly well done. Among my favorites was a room with an old-fashioned, wooden cathedral-style radio where you could press a button to hear several of FDR's most important fireside chats.When we returned to the visitor center, there were far more people there than I could imagine were taking the tour. It turned out there was an Ice Yacht Expo taking place, and one of the speakers we heard was FDR’s grandson, David Roosevelt!

I found the history of the library very extensive and interesting. The Presidential library was well organized and the facts about president Roosevelt were presented with a manner that kept the visitor engaged. The movie theater played movie about the history of the place and the tour guides guided us nicely around the library. Easy access to other historic places at Hyde park.

Take a full day and immerse yourself in the Roosevelts! The library is a must see of artifacts and information. The house is a step back in time. Beautifully preserved and wonderful to explore. The park rangers are very knowledgeable and give you plenty of time to check out each room in the house. The garden where the Roosevelts are buried is lovely and peaceful.

My boyfriend and I decided to head to the area 'just because' and wanted to check out the FDR Library and Museum on a Sunday. We started out with the tour of his home which was so neat. We had a GREAT park ranger who was SO knowledgeable and answered all of our questions during the tour and stuck around after to answer even more questions that some of us had. He was truly passionate about his job and about FDR, so his enthusiasm really rubbed off on all of us during the tour. I think that even the bored teen agers got something out of it!After the tour of the home, we headed over the library which was so cool because it is apparently the only library commissioned by a sitting president. The building itself isn't that large, but the amount of history, exhibits and information is almost overwhelming, yet so beautifully laid out. It's got a great flow that makes it easy to follow the history of this President and what I really enjoyed was how much of it was dedicated to Eleanor Roosevelt (what a truly amazing lady!)It was almost eerie to hear the voice of the President over the radio during some of his "fireside chats" that you can play in certain areas and viewing his private study, with the items that he actually brought in to admire, sit on, write on, etc., was so amazing. It also brought tears to my eyes to be able to stand at a podium and read the words "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" (and the entire speech if I had wanted), as well as seeing the original announcement of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as a "Day that will live in World History" with "World History" crossed out and "Infamy" written in. It gives you chills. The entire museum is very moving.DON'T MISS IT!

We were visiting Fishkill, NY and we were told that Hyde Park was about 1/2 hour away. Our flight at JFK wasn't until 6:00, so we decided to take a detour to see the home and library/ museum of FDR, the only President to have served 4 terms in office.There's different packages you can get, but you can only take a guided tour of the inside of the house. The museum can be done independently, and at your own leisure.The tour of the house took about an hour, and then you were allowed to roam the grounds. FDR and Eleanor are buried to the right of the house (or left of the museum). Don't miss it as you walk back to the museum.If you're pressed for time, I would say take the tour, and skip the museum for next time. We took the 12:30 tour, and saw about 40% of the museum. We left at 2:30 and arrived at JFK with enough time to return the car with a topped off tank