Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

05/24/2026

We solemnly remember on this Memorial Day the service men and women who sacrificed their lives for the people of the United States of America.

The National Park Service provides FREE admission to protected, historic spaces and lands on this important holiday. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is also offering FREE access to its facilities for the occasion.

Please come to the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt on Memorial Day to view the birthplace, cherished home, presidential library, and final resting place of the president who guided the American public through the global conflict of WWII. Furthermore, the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site will be conducting FREE tours of the monumental, Gilded Age home of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt for Memorial Day.
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We will leave you with an excerpt from Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day" column on May 30, 1959, in which she reflects on the importance of Memorial Day:

"On Memorial Day at Hyde Park we always gather in the Rose Garden for the ceremonies which particularly honor my husband but include all of our citizens who have lost their lives in the service of their country.

In the past, the thought of serving our country implied the act of going to war and defending it in a military way. But the time has come for us to realize that serving our country may mean many things which have nothing to do with war.

In fact, the greatest service to our country may be performed by the men who finally formulate ways to control human nature and cease the killing of one another and permit us to live peacefully together...
..This is the kind of spirit of love which we might think about particularly on Memorial Day. For the world must change if we are going to preserve its existence, and so our patriotism should now be turned towards encouraging and preserving everything which can develop us into people able to live at peace with each other."
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05/23/2026

Summer & Fall 2026 - Current operating hours for the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site:

The Grounds of the Eleanor Roosevelt NHS
• April 1–August 31
– 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
– 7 days a week
• September
– 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
– 7 days a week
• October
– 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
– 7 days a week

Guided Tours of Eleanor's Val-Kill Cottage
• May 22–November 1
– Wednesdays through Sunday
– 9:30 AM until 4:00 PM
– Tickets are FREE
– Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.
– Tickets for tours are available at the Visitor Center.
– Tours are provided by park rangers.
– Tour times are subject to change.

Stone Cottage Visitor Center
• April 1–October 31
– Wednesdays through Sunday
– 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
– The visitor center contains:
• museum exhibits
• regional brochures and information
• NPS attendants
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For more info on grounds hours and tour times visit our "Operating Hours & Seasons" page of our website at:
https://www.nps.gov/elro/planyourvisit/hours.htm

If you have operational questions, you may also email our visitor services team at: [email protected]

Image: Stone Cottage Visitor Center. NPS Photo.

05/06/2026

A rainy day at the Stone Cottage. 🌧️

05/04/2026

04/29/2026

In the early 20th century, many women were unfortunately not present in politics. That societal inhibition was certainly not due to a lack of effort amongst female activists, and finally under Franklin D. Roosevelt's national leadership, women and citizens of minority groups were beginning to find seats at the policy-making tables. In FDR's committees, you might find one female representative, but you better believe that she was often sitting at the head of the table. One such humble visionary was Anna Rosenberg.

Anna Rosenberg fostered diplomatic change throughout Franklin Roosevelt's entire career. As a labor relations expert, Anna advised FDR during his campaigns for New York governor in the late 1920s and 1930s. Once Roosevelt became the chief executive of the United States in 1933, Anna transitioned to pivotal roles within New Deal committees and eventually defense initiatives during World War II.

When the Social Security Board was instituted in 1935, Anna acted as the regional director for New York. When activists such as A. Philip Randolph and Walter White demanded racial equality in the military and defense industries, Anna organized collaborative meetings with them to craft Executive Order 8802 barring racial discrimination in hiring processes. When FDR wished to learn of soldiers' welfare and expectations when they returned to the United States, he sent Anna in the shadow of D-Day directly to Europe to interview the troops.
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Anna Rosenberg did not shy away from danger or difficult conversations, and the examples listed here are a mere sampling of the accolades she amassed. If you wish to know more about this remarkable woman of positive change, please follow the link in the comments to an article written by Christopher C. Gorham.

Furthermore, you can join our Parks & Pages book club tomorrow to hear from Mr. Gorham himself. His acclaimed book about the life of Mrs. Rosenberg, The Confidante, is the topic of discussion tomorrow, April 30, from 6 to 7 PM at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center. The book club will meet physically, but we have also provided a Microsoft Teams link for those who wish to attend virtually. Check the comments below for the Teams link and the Facebook event link. Mr. Gorham will join the Teams call virtually near the end for a question-and-answer session. We hope you can make it!
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Photo: Mrs. Anna Rosenberg became the first American citizen to receive the Medal of Freedom on October 29, 1945. The medal was presented to Mrs. Rosenberg by Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson. The award was given on the recommendation of General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower in recognition of Mrs. Rosenberg's work overseas. Courtesy of the US National Archives and Harry S. Truman Library & Museum

04/21/2026

Thanks to a generous grant from the National Park Foundation, we are proud to announce that the NPS sites of Hyde Park, NY are able to host Education Interns for the summer and fall seasons of 2026!

Are you someone who enjoys teaching students about history? Can you frame important narratives creatively making them engaging and understandable? Are you a purple, faceless entity with a question mark on your face? If so, we would be more than excited to hear from you!
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If you wish to apply for this position, please email us at "[email protected]" with a resume and cover letter expressing your interests and what intrigues you about our Hyde Park sites which include the Home of FDR, the Vanderbilt Mansion, and Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill.

Anyone over 18 can apply, and we are especially open to applications from college age students. We can work with your advisors to offer credit for school internships. A monthly stipend and other accommodations can be arranged. To learn more about this internship, please go to the following webpage: https://www.nps.gov/hofr/getinvolved/employment.htm
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Okay... you don't have to be purple with a question mark for a face, but someday, we know we'll find them! 🟣❔
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04/20/2026

Volunteers are the sparkle in our park!

In Hyde Park, NY, garden volunteers can be found in the Beatrix Farrand Garden at the Bellefield Mansion, the formal gardens of the Vanderbilt Mansion, the Roosevelt’s home gardens, and the rustic setting of Eleanor’s Val Kill. The work of volunteers enhances the quality of gardens which immerse visitors in nature, beauty, and history. To learn more about the garden volunteer programs in our parks, come to the garden volunteer information meeting this Wednesday, April 22nd at 10 a.m. in the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.



Image: A close-up of a Gomphrena flower. NPS Photo

04/08/2026

NPS volunteers are a friendly, caring community. Join us!

It takes a village to maintain a park. Garden volunteers bring energy, talent, and enthusiasm to the landscapes of our three national parks in Hyde Park, NY. To learn more about joining the friendly crew, come to the garden volunteer information meeting on Wednesday, April 22nd at 10 a.m. in the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
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For more info about volunteer programs with the NPS sites of Hyde Park, NY, you can also check out our website at https://www.nps.gov/hofr/getinvolved/volunteer.htm
or email us at: [email protected]
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12/17/2025

Ninety years ago today, December 17th, 1935, the first prototype of the DC-3 flew its maiden flight to mark the beginning of a brand-new era in global aviation. During this maiden test flight, the aircraft performed well and exceeded prior expectations for its speed, handling, and range.

The DC-3 revolutionized the commercial aviation industry and was equally helpful in aiding many military fleets across the world, especially during the outbreak of World War II. Many European carriers rapidly transformed their DC-3s from passenger aircraft to reliable military aircraft to transport troops, cargo, and paratroops.

In early 1943, the United States Army Air Forces also ordered modified military versions of the DC-3 from Douglas for similar purposes. These versions of the DC-3 were designated as the C-47s, C-53s, C-117s, and the R4D. This meant the end of production for the commercial passenger version of the DC-3s, and the remainder of the aircraft that were still on the production line were modified and presented for active military service.
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Image: Maj General M.F. Harmon and Admiral William “Bull” Halsey pose with the Eleanor Roosevelt in front an Army Air Force C-47 bearing her name during a stop on New Caledonia, September 14, 1943 - NPS Photo

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
National Park Service
The Boeing Company