Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

This is the second presidential library I've visited and it was quite an amazing experience. The historical documents and letters especially where very cool to see. The library shows the entire life and presidency of FDR. The exhibits are very detailed and lots of historic pieces are at display! Seeing FDR's desk and car were also really cool!

This has been the first and so far only presidential library I have visited. I didn't know it was in ny lol. My wife and my intentions was to visit both the house and this wonderful library. But unfortunately the house was sold out with limited access. I'm not sure if it's open now but if you never been to a presidential library and you're local this is the place to be. My wife was amazed at what a trailblazer Eleanor was and there was a guide there who was very knowledgeable and took his time explaining some of the history. Hopefully soon it will reopen if it's closed highly recommended

The FDR Library and Museum is a wonderful experience. The grounds are incredibly well kept. The exhibits are extremely informative and are complimented by some wonderful real pieces of history. Plan to spend 3 hours here if you really plan on taking it all in. Would highly recommend.

The FDR Museum was presented beautifully—like a walk through history, highlighting the pivotal changes FDR made to create a better America. The exhibits were informative, engaging, and easy to follow, offering a powerful sense of the era. The home tour was equally impressive. It was air-conditioned and allowed us to see most of the rooms, providing a real sense of how the Roosevelts lived. Our guide did a fantastic job sharing the history, explaining key events, and thoughtfully answering every question. A wonderful experience all around and a must-visit for anyone interested in American history.

A must-visit for anyone interested in American history or leadership. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is beautifully curated, immersive, and deeply inspiring. The exhibits bring FDR’s legacy to life—from the New Deal to World War II—using original documents, videos, and interactive displays. You also get a strong sense of Eleanor Roosevelt’s impact, which was a highlight. The grounds are peaceful and scenic, with access to the Roosevelt family home, burial site, and walking paths overlooking the Hudson Valley. It’s the first presidential library in the U.S. and still one of the best. Give yourself at least 3-4 hours to take it all in. Highly recommend for a meaningful and educational experience!

Exceeded our expectations, our tour guide for the house was excellent and full of interesting information. The house is as it was when turned over to the NPS in 1946 and well worth tour The library has so many interesting exhibits and fascinating thing to learn I’m a history buff and discovered many new items Even the cafe is great the food was delicious and service quick and a very friendly staff Highly recommended visiting when you can we spent about 4 hours all together

HIGHLY recommended - one of the more informative presidential libraries that we have visited. Start at the Henry Wallace Visitor Center to get your tickets and save your receipt - admission is good for two days. There was no option to reserve your slots online. If you are a veteran - you get a free admission. There is also a cafe, bathrooms and water refill station, and a movie on loop in the visitor center, too. We found it more advantageous to reserve a Roosevelt house tour slot and do that first.. then visit the library as it was open until 6p in the summer with no timed slot necessary. Three hours minimum recommended to read most of the exhibits..!

It was such a fantastic place to visit. So much history - and to see the outside of the house* and site (which I had seen in historical photos was quite something). I brought my child here in the summer of 2023 (admittedly, I’m a bit of a nerd for history). My child had a lot of fun with the exhibits and enjoyed much of what there was to see. For me, it was all quite wonderful. *I didn’t manage to get a tour of the inside of the house, as I missed the timing.

There are sixteen presidential libraries spread throughout the United States, so why go to this one? If I had to pick one of the reasons to visit, I would say the set up including FDR's Fireside Chats. He had about thirteen fireside chats during his twelve years and thirty-nine days in office. His fireside chats were a series of evening radio addresses, and you can really feel and imagine yourself being there while you play the audio in the rooms designed to bring you back to that time. You can also pay admission to see the house that FDR lived in that is a few steps from the FDR presidential library. You can easily spend two plus hours in this presidential library so plan accordingly. This was the first presidential library that I have visited, and I look forward to seeing how the others compare. Also, very interesting item that is on display is the desk that FDR sat at in the oval office with all his original picture frames and items still present on the desk. Highly recommend and as always people SYOY!!!

FDR presidential library & museum was the highlight of my visit to Hyde Park. He was such a dominant figure of the 20th century America that his policies and legacy still affects us today. I was reminded how many policies he was responsible for as I walked through the museum. WWII was a tough time in America, so was the Great Depression. FDR was our man to lead us through those stormy years and the history judged him favorably. I couldn't help but wonder: being a wheelchair bound person, could he be elected a president in today's image-centric environment?

We drove 2 hours from Manhattan to visit this library and while I was initially skeptical that it would be worth it, it totally was. The Library is located on FDR's estate, where you can also visit his house and stables, all of which was donated by FDR to the state. He is also buried here. With someone who was president for over 12 hours, there is a lot to cover, and you could easily spend a day here. I definitely didn't appreciate learning about him in high school US history, but now can only marvel at how impressive a president he was. Fascinating to think how he never would have been elected if there was TV and people knew he was in a wheelchair, yet he was one of the top 3 most important presidents in history. He got us out of the Great Depression and steered us through WWII. His landslide victories and success as a president make me wonder how long he might have stayed in office if he hadn't died.

Be sure to visit the FDR Presidential Library while exploring the The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt The Roosevelt legacy has always been somewhere close to my heart and interests, since I've grown up in New York; feeling, as if I have "direct" ties to both FDR and Teddy (and Eleanor Roosevelt too). National Historical Site Hyde Park, NY 8/23 Nikon D750 Home to the 32nd and longest-serving president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt returned to Hyde Park often, drawing on this place to renew his spirit during times of personal and political crisis. 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.

A fantastic presidential library and museum! Very comprehensive museum providing many details on FDR and Eleanor's lives from childhood to their deaths. Good written descriptions of exhibits with various forms of media including several short movies providing more details. There are some very interesting original treasures included in this museum. Examples of some fascinating tidbits that are easily overlooked: a campaign flyer featuring a League of Nations song, a sketch of an embryonic concept for the United Nations made by FDR, a concealed carry handgun permit for Eleanor.... Many interesting and some unfiltered details to find in this museum. Cost: $10 Time budget: 3 hours Overall cleanliness: above average Bathroom cleanliness: between average and above average Misc.: We visited on a hot summer afternoon, and the air conditioning inside the museum was great!

In the morning, we toured the house and then after lunch at the Culinary Institute of America we spent 2 hours at this museum. Tickets for the museum are sold at the visitor's center and are sold separately from the house tour tickets because the house tours are run by the National Parks Service and the museum is run by the National Archives. FDR had a very long and eventful Presidency so there was a lot to see at the museum. The exhibits also gave a lot of attention to Eleanor and the role she played in FDR's administration. Everything was very well done.

We keep coming back to the FDR Library and Museum for events, and we keep finding ourselves delighted with the experiences in just about every way. To be brief: we recently attended the Roosevelt Reading Festival, a day-long gathering of authors whose books in some way touch on the life and work of FDR and Eleanor. It was a terrific learning opportunity and lots of fun, too. The event was skillfully managed, everyone associated with it was pleasant, and the small snack area at the museum served up some surprisingly tasty items. We'd recommend a visit here if you haven't been recently, and we'd add that this very short commentary hardly begins to describe all of the exhibits and displays that result from a stop here and at FDR's home next door.

The Franklin d Roosevelt library and museum were a fun quick stop for us. We had our dog so we couldn't go inside anything but it was nice to just look around and see a few things. The house is currently under renovations it seems because there were a lot of gates around but it was still nice to look at. It was nice for a quick 30 min look around but nothing crazy for me. Again we did have the dog so I'm sure it'd be more cool to go inside and see things.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was our nation's 32nd president and was the only president to serve for 4 terms (well he didn't end up finishing his 4th term because he died while in office in 1945. In 1947, it was passed that a president could only serve up to 2 terms). FDR was actually in his 2nd term as governor or New York when he was elected to be president in 1932. FDR really did a lot for this nation, helping to try to pull the US out of debt during the Great Depression, coming up with the New Deal program to help provide aid to those unemployed, help establish a national minimum wage, connecting with Americans with his fireside chats he would broad cast on the radio and helped to create the United Nations. FDR married his 5th cousin, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt in 1905. He was related to the famous and former president Theodore Roosevelt (he was an uncle to Eleanor Roosevelt). FDR had polio when he was 39 years old. He was in a wheelchair but was able to stand up and walk very few steps. There aren't that many photos of FDR in a wheelchair, as he had requested that the press avoid photographing him walking or being transferred to his car (sometimes he was carried to and from his car). But for those photographers that did not honor his wishes, Secret Service was assigned to interfere with those trying to take photos of him in such a manner. And as mentioned earlier, FDR did die during his 4th term in office, from a stroke on April 12, 1956. His vice president, Harry S. Truman took his place thereafter. Now that you know some of the background history on FDR, this presidential library only cost $10 to visit, which is a pretty good price and can spend a few hours to attend (parking is free by the way). Currently you must purchase timed tickets online (as you are unable to purchase tickets on site). On the grounds of this library is also FDR's home. You can tour but only available Friday through Monday (the price of your ticket includes the tour, which I did not know during our visit and wished that we had joined the tour). You are able to view the burial ground of FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt and their dog, Fala. You are also able to view their horse stables (but note that there are not horses). I really enjoyed the exhibits and seeing FDR's actual office desk with official documents and artifacts. It was interesting to see some of FDR's model ships and learning a bit more information about Eleanor Roosevelt in a section towards the end of the library that is just all about her. Definitely worth a visit if you are in this part of New York. The grounds are gorgeous and would also be a great spot for a photo shoot.

If you live in or around Dutchess County, and you have not taken in this important historical site, plan on it soon. Some thing for everyone, even those who are not into history. The grounds are beautiful.

I loved this museum, which I did in conjunction with a tour of the Roosevelt home, Springhill. Started with a small section on Roosevelt family history and glossed over Roosevelt's very brief New York governorship, to focus on the New Deal and WWII. While each portion of FDR's presidency is presented with simple, concise text, you can explore further with personal, sometimes intimate, correspondence and artifacts. Some of my favorites were letters to FDR and Eleanor from regular citizens. Very moving to see how much America loved and believed in them. My favorite part of the museum was FDR's presidential desk, which holds his personal possessions, arranged in the same fashion they were on the day of his death. I loved how this made me feel close to him--the tattered little animals, the chipped porcelain figurines. His pencils, waiting as if he were going to return tomorrow. I also loved the display of Eleanor's wallet contents at the time of her death. And I never knew she had an FBI file until now! The museum also holds Roosevelt papers, busts, FDR's model ship collection, the Roosevelt art collection, and FDR's automobile. I spent about two hours here, but you could easily spend more. Admission is 10 dollars. Right now entry is timed. If you want to time it with the FDR home, right now they are only touring Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The home tour only takes about 20-30 minutes tops right now. You could do the home tour at 10 AM and the museum opens at 11 AM. You could probably also view the Vanderbilt estate in the same day--I did--and it was a nice, full day.

This is a special place. I was so happy that my 8 year old was actively engaged with the museum exhibits. I think 8 is about the right age that kids will start to soak in this museum. There's a nice mix of artifacts, relics vs multimedia exhibits. They have a nice gift shop and a little cafe as well. My only gripe was that the guided house tour was 2 hours. We paid for and started the tour but could see the kid disaster looming so we bailed. So heed that warning before buying the house tour tickets.

A beautiful place! The grounds are gorgeous with lots of trees and plants. A visitors center has lots of information. The park rangers were helpful in planning a visit. You can visit the Roosevelt's home and also the museum. Buy tickets ahead of time because they sell out! We only visited the museum which was interesting. We learned a lot about DDR We spent most of our time walking the grounds. Eleanor's house is located in a different area that you actually had to drive to. A couple of the rooms are open. The grounds here are also beautiful!

Lots to see and learn about FDR. Great exhibits, documents. Can visit residence, too.worthwhile for all. Anyone interested in the family should go. Also allow time to go to Valkill, Eleanor's places Don't forget to visit their graves in the Rose Garden!

Despite not really knowing what a Presidential Library is, I've long harbored a desire to visit one. If you feel the same and find yourself anywhere near Hyde Park, the FDR Library and Museum will answer those questions, possibly better than a visit to any of the other 13 Presidential Libraries. The FDR Library is the first in the genre - the OG if you will - and as a result, sets the standard for what one can expect to find in such a place. What you'll find here is the beautiful grounds, gardens, and burial site for FDR, his childhood home (a Ranger tours you through), and the library and museum. There's enough here to last you a full day but your $20 ticket gains you admittance for any 2 consecutive days just in case. I only spent a single day on-site and didn't arrive until the afternoon. After touring his childhood home and the grounds, it was time for the museum and what a museum it is. Well executed and interesting, this is indeed a place one could spend two days in. I didn't in any way come close to getting through all there was to see and learn here. FDR was an interesting man who led an interesting life and wed an interesting woman. Unlike our current president, he loved dogs and his, Fala, appears in many photos from his life including those with other world leaders. A Presidential Library and Museum may be just a big propaganda stunt for ensuring fond remembrances of the greatness of American leaders but I was pretty much sold on the good in FDR just learning of his affection for his dog. If you have any interest at all, this is the Presidential Library and Museum to visit. You might never get to the Archives - more than 17 million pages of documents - as the Museum itself is so compelling as to deem those archives, the Library, unnecessary.

I've been to the Bush (Dallas), Kennedy (Boston) and Johnson (Austin) Presidential Libraries and Monticello (Charlottesville). I have some work to do to get to others, but here I am in Hyde Park and visited the excellent FDR library. Today was a super hot day with temperatures in the high 90's and they had an air conditioning failure in one of the buildings. As such, we got a bit of a discount on our admission and a special tour. The tour guide was excellent and is clearly very passionate about the Roosevelts. His knowledge was apparently bottomless as he answered questions with detail and specifics. Really interesting to hear about the history of FDR and the Roosevelt family. Touring the grounds, enjoying the view of the valley and then visiting the gravesites was an interesting and fulfilling experience. Then walking through the library was even better. It is clearly organized and designed for a full and complete walk through the history of not only Franklin Delano Roosevelt but also Eleanor Roosevelt, the times leading up to his Presidency, the events of World War II and the major events of his time in office. Very, very interesting, several interactive exhibits and lots of learning. If you're a fan of Americana and the American experience, it's well worth a visit. [Review 11490 overall, 1270 of 2019.]

The museum was self guided and well laid out, and the FDR house tour was decent but there were too many on the tour to be able to walk around freely (in the house, not the museum). Tours do fill up so assume you will miss the one you are planning to attend. Only credit cards are accepted- no cash. Really? This is a federal park, no? Also, it is now $30 per person so it's a bit steep when you bring your entire family.

Great place to learn about history, plus the house is beautiful. His car is the star of the show!

For a small town library it has a lot to offer. Plenty of books. A media room. They also hold various events throughout the year.

What can I say that hasn't been said already? Presently there's an exhibition of WW II posters. You can easily spend 2 or 3 hours there and not even notice the time has passed. There are a few multimedia exhibitions which are very moving. You have to see them to appreciate them.

We wanted to tour the museum and the home. Unfortunately the home tour was sold out. However the museum was great and cheap at $10 per person. But museum ticket could only be purchased on line. The home tour ticket must be purchased in person. In addition. It was wonderful to sightseeing the estate for free. Be sure to check out be Rose Garden where the President and First Lady were buried. Also the carriage barn was nice to tour. The visitor center also had a 30 minutes film about FDR. Parking spaces were plentiful.

This was quite impressive. Due to my interest in visiting presidential sites over the years, I had to make this location be on my list and it did not disappoint. I thought the layout of the building was an interesting choice. It was neat to see how the entrance was built, which made an optical illusion to how the rest of the library was going to be designed. I really enjoyed seeing the different artifacts that were throughout the museum. It is also within a short walking distance to his home as well as other sites that were used throughout his lifetime. If you're looking to visit New York, but want to go somewhere other than the Big Apple or Niagara Falls, I would encourage people to take a trip to see the FDR Presidential Library as well as the other locations in the Hyde Park area.

Amazingly educational! It's a fantastic review of what FDR did for USA. Enlightenment on his range of interests, his plans for United Nations, working with Churchill and Stalin during WW II. His "educated clan" which gave us the programs we have now!' Well worth visiting!

This is the third Presidential library that I have visited, and the one that I was most looking forward to. It was worth the jaunt up from NYC. First they take you on a tour of the grounds/the family house. Then they turn you loose on the library/museum. The library is a fitting monument to one of our nation's greatest Presidents, while still delving deep into all of the historical nooks and crannies. (Even the ones that don't show him in a favorable light.) The docents are very friendly and eager to layer on even more history beyond the exhibits. They seem genuinely thrilled to answer any questions that you might have. The holdings of the library are extraordinary, including campaign memorabilia, drafts of speeches with hand-written edits, (including his first inaugural address and the "day that will live in infamy" speech from after Pearl Harbor) his Oval Office desk, loads of official documents, artifacts and artwork from the New Deal and World War II, eras, his huge collection of nautical paintings (many are in the house), his collection of (furniture sized) model ships, as well as artifacts relating to his early life, to Eleanor and to his disability. These threads are all woven together to tell the narrative of FDRs life, political career and 13-year Presidency in which he saved America from the ravages of the depression, completely reshaped the Federal government into the form and breadth it has today and saved the world from the menace of the axis powers. I highly recommend a visit to the Roosevelt library if you are anywhere in the area. (And if you are a history buff you should probably make a trip out here, particularly since the Hudson Valley is pretty great too and there is decent access to New York.)

We really enjoyed the library. We decided to visit the home first and then stop in the library. We liked that. It was helpful to get familiar the FDR's personal life and upbringing prior to seeing his presidential achievements. It was great because you really got a good sense of who he was as a man and as a president. I'm not gonna lie. If you are short on time. And you can only visit one building. Choose to visit his home with a guided tour. The library is great but the home is an experience.

Worth a visit. It was sad though to see an antique Persian carpet left unprotected at the front room of the house

So much to see. So well presented. While he had his fair share of flaws, one sees his adroit political skills and his commitment to American shining through. Oh how the quality of our Presidents has declined...

I plan to visit all of the Presidential Libraries in my life given the chance. FDR's marks my 3rd (preceded by Carter's in ATL and Clinton's in AK). Right off the bat one distinguishing factor of the FDR library is that it is on some gorgeous ground which includes the FDR Hyde Park house itself--so you get to see more of a President's personal space than such tours typically offer. The library itself has so, so much to cover---the man did get elected 4 times---and on top of that there is plenty to see on the grounds and you can tour the house as well. The exhibits are fascinating. While we were there the Japanese Internment Camp exhibit was also on display---and it is comprehensive. We actually began our tour there as we entered by it and it tempers your enthusiasm a bit at first upon completion. Seriously, as amazing as FDR was beginning a look at his life with a hard look at his largest mistake has a way of hitting you. I loved the museum, the weather was perfect for taking our time on the grounds and snagging some pictures, and we could have easily spent a full day here. I only knock a star from my review because I was unable to tour the house or receive a guided tour of the library which I really had hoped to do. From google (and elsewhere) we believed the park was open until 6pm and thus assumed a final tour at 4:30 or 5. When we arrived I asked when the last tour was and was told, now, you have plenty of time but the house tours are done for the day---well, he was referring to the self-guided tour (which cost as much as a guided tour). We drove a long way to get here and admittedly were cutting it close but I wish we'd known the guided tours stopped so long before the close of business so we could have planned better. Also while in the area make sure to check out the Eleanor Roosevelt site nearby.

Fabulous place to learn about FDR. It has the home and the museum. Be sure to reserve your tours early since they are limited and are often not available if you wait until the day of the visit to get a tour reservation. The museum cost $10. The home tour is part of the NPS entry fee. You can visit the grounds without a fee. The grounds are beautiful with various pointes of interest, including FDR's tomb. This is a must visit for any history buff!

Beautiful facilities worthy of its namesake. Having visited four presidential libraries (Nixon, Reagan, and LBJ between 2012-2017), this was by far my favorite. It strikes the difficult balance of providing engaging information and promoting FDR's legacy without ever losing its solemnity whereas others definitely seemed gimmicky at various points.

Look, you can't give this place any less then a 5 star review unless the tour guide or someone was rude. It is what it is, a Presidential Library. It's the basic story of his life and terms in office. This was the 1st presidential library made and it was started during his term in office. It had different facts of his early childhood, through his death. When you start, you start off with the "Day That Will Live In Infamy" part. Which is December 7th. After you go through this which has his actual speech and speech he wrote on and reworded, which also have classified documents from that day, you can then start the regular tour. The regular tour of his museum had his buttons, his campaigns and other neat things that he did during his time. I liked it because it shows our history. In the back of the museum outside, is his gravesite and his wife along with the house, Springwood, in which he grew up and lived in.

My expectations were not very high before entering the library / museum but my experience there turned out to be very enriching and rewarding. The museum contains extensive well designed displays outlining FDRs history as president with original documents and correspondence on display. There is much more than meets the eye from seeing the building from the outside and it is well worth the visit!

It was the first presidential library and museum erected (1941) and only library erected for a sitting president. Much more of a museum then a library, it is curated to display the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in for the most part chronological order. I found the genealogy which was done in charts, photos and painting most interesting, as well, the early years of F.D.R. and Eleanor. The flow of the museum takes you from his early political career into his four presidency's. Important documents like his first inaugural speech, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" and the 12/8/1941 speech, "a date which will live in infamy" can be seen. You'll leave with a comprehensive understanding of who F.D.R. was and his contribution to our great country. You start your experience at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor's and Educational Center. This is where you buy your tickets. The F.D.R. Presidential Library and Museum is a self-guided tour and costs $9 for those 15 years or older. Seniors (62+) $6 and those with the senior National Park Pass it is free. There are no student discounts. A Base Audio Description which runs 2 hours and 12 minutes (61 mbs) and a 13 hour and 40 minute longer version can be had online on iTunes. Tickets are good for two days so if you want to go out for lunch and come back it's possible. The Culinary Institute of America is just two miles down the road and has a walk in Apple Pie Bakery and Cafe which is reasonably priced. Their other restaurants are by registration and more expensive. The beautiful grounds overlooking the Hudson River are free and open dawn to dusk. This includes the informative visitor's center, the stables, rose garden where F.D.R. and Eleanor are buried and the cottage and greenhouses. Springwood, F.D.R. home can be toured and is 200 feet from the library/museum. Tickets at the visitor's center also. Val-Kil, Eleanor's home is just 2 miles away and tickets are purchased there.The library is also free to use for conducting research. No pre-appointment is necessary, Application, issuance of ID card and submission for request of materials is all done when you get there. The library and museum is open Nov-March from 9-5. There are handicapped parking spots, elevators, audio description guides for the blind in English and Spanish which are free and picked up at the New Deal Gift Shop. Photos are permitted but no selfie sticks.

Having visited another Presidential Library (Ronald Reagan) - I was less impressed in some aspects by FDR's library. We visited the library after touring both the Vanderbilt Mansion and FDR's home (on the same site) - there was a great deal of genealogical information on the Roosevelt's, and then the rest of the museum follows along FDR's path after he has become President, from the New Deal to his death near the end of WW2. Many of the artifacts the library contained were interesting, like Franklin and Eleanor's marriage certificate (witnessed by then Pres. Theodore Roosevelt and the First Lady). If you've watched any of Ken Burn's documentary on the Roosevelt's, you will recognize many of the photos and documents in the Library from the documentary. Also impressive was the story of the Library, which FDR himself founded (and used for his office - unique among presidential libraries). That being said, FDR did plan and develop the library himself. Controversial parts of his administration (such as the internment of Japanese Americans) are recognized but not highlighted in the museums exhibits. For myself, there was also a large amount of content - it would be best to explore the library over the 2 days afforded by the ticket. By comparison, Reagan's library had a lot more large items (such as the Air Force One airplane and Marine One helicopters he used. Overall, a good presidential library, and worth the visit, especially if you wish to learn more about FDR and his presidency!

This was our seventh presidential library visit, and was by the far the best one. We don't normally write reviews for them, but because FDR's doesn't have many, we wanted to emphasize how wonderful this estate--and the NPS--is. We broke our visit up into two days: FDR's home and library on one day, and Val-Kill on a second day. Be sure to check in with the front desk before you plan on coming because you only see the houses on guided tours and they run on random days at random times. For our tours of both Eleanor's and Franklin's homes, each of our guides was fantastic. They were kind, engaging, knowledgable beyond belief, and most importantly, succinct. Nothing felt too drawn out or rushed. And FDR's library is a wonder. We were expecting something very ramshackle and bare bones because we knew that it was the first ever presidential library, but as we discovered, they had a $35 million (!) renovation in 2013. The money was well-spent: fascinating exhibits that don't get into the weeds, an HONEST accounting of both FDR's flaws and achievements (W's library could really learn something here), good videos, good layout, good timelines. You'll want to give yourself at least 2-3 hours to go through--the man did serve four terms after all! But seriously, the whole FDR operation was stellar, and it takes a lot to impress us. The only thing that marred the experience was seeing Trump's stupid face in a picture in the visitor center. That buffoon is the literal antithesis of FDR, and is a temporary scar on his library.

You can only take a tour of the inside of the house. The Ranger gives you a quick detail of the place, and lets you roam inside on your own pace. 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, as the museum has a lot of detail that you would want to spend time looking at, and not rushing.

There are tours daily at 2:30 and 4:00. You get to see that 35-room mansion outfitted to hide his wheelchair from guests, such as the Queen of England. He was born in the house, which was originally 17? rooms, and then later expanded it, with approval from his dear, dowager mum. In the summer, you can also see the cabin that Eleanor lived in, which has been described by someone I know as a "trailer" in Valkill, just down the road. The property was once 1600 acres but is now about half that, if I remember correctly. On the tour, you walk past the cemetary, where both Franklin and Eleanor were buried. I would try to plan your trip to go after May 2013, since the library is under construction--you don't want to miss the ability to see where he gave his fireside chats for 16 years! Also, the views must be gorgeous in the summer. There are no discounts for students, but I think there is now something for seniors.

Wow! This was only my second Presidential Library I've been to (the other being Bill Clinton's in Little Rock, AR) and quickly became a favorite. FDR obviously was a four term president so naturally there is a LOT of information. It took us about 4 hours to get through the museum and we're the kind of people who read everything. The museum did a good job highlighting all parts of his life - policy, personal, political and exhibited the material in many different ways that made the museum engaging and entertaining. You could listen to fireside chats, watch videos, read exhibits, or compare research with different opinions about the president. There was also an exhibit on Eleanor and you could see a lot of the archives. Also FDR's car! The museum was expansive, detailed, fascinating and a MUST do for anyone interested in politics or history.

The FDR Museum is quite excellent, I highly recommend you visit. Plan a full day in order to see everything, but get there early because the guided tours fill up fast. The museum is well laid out and has great information about FDR's presidency (and early life). I really appreciated how the museum presented both the positive and negative aspects of FDR's personal and professional lives. I find that missing from most presidential libraries, they rarely cover the negatives. If you have kids, keep in mind that the museum is not very interactive, so little ones in particular may lose interest quickly.

Awesome experience! I love this era of American history. This library is entertaining and educational for all ages. Although I don't vote along the same party lines as FDR, I still respect the man for dealing with polio, war time, financial ruin, and other issues I appreciate the historical information more than party lines.

My friend suggested we come here on our drive from EWR to the Catskills, and I was secretly not too excited -- was more interested in where we could stop for food and the bathroom. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my time here. We did the tour which took us through the property past FDRs gravestone and mainly focused on his private home. That was interesting, but what was really amazing was the Library, which had an exhibit of war time posters. That and the standard museum detailing FDRs presidency was super interesting and a great refresh on my US history. Would highly recommend coming here and allotting 2+ hours.

A fun and neat stop, it is more on the expensive side of the National Parks but well worth it. They have permanent exhibits and ones that are seasonal. Our tour guide, Jason, was extremely knowledgeable about FDR and his family. When giving his tour he kept the little ones entertained while appealing to the older members of the tour. When we went it was extremely hot, sit he second floor was not open, I was slightly disappointed by this considering the tour cost was $20. They did open the kitchen to compensate. I loved learning about how FDR's disability was hidden, I am so glad to see that the public and the way we treat people with disabilities is different now. Plan to spend approximately 2-3 hours touring the house, museum/library and the gardens. There were many things that I learned from doing this tour and well worth it. Make sure you drive down the road to see the other houses that are in the family. The Roosevelt's really helped to shape our country.

I am on a quest to see all of the presidential libraries. As a California kid, I've seen Reagan and Nixon's, but obviously that's all we've got (so far) in California for presidents. I was coming to New York, and I'm fortunate a cousin lives in the area with his girlfriend. Looking at, walking around, and standing in history was better than reading it in a history book. To read his original laminated copy of his first inaugural address, to see personal effects and photos from the President's time at Harvard, and even the exhibits dedicated to Eleanor gave me chills. As I sat down and listened to his fireside chats, I shuddered. I was massively aware that day of where I was sitting and the history and legacy of the man and his wife in whose library I was standing in. The ghosts bounced off the walls, and I could hear FDR's determination and leadership, and even his great mistakes as President (Exec. Order 9066) fill the building. Finally, I stood at his and the First Lady's graves, and I thought, "What a beautiful place and memorial to these people who led this nation fearlessly."

Solid touchstone of strong leaders of times past. Despite all of the exhibits and analyses of FDR's three-plus terms as president, the most striking artifact may actually be actually the visitors' book, in which guests have taken the opportunity to contrast the thoughtful leadership of the 1930s-1940s to the dumpster fire of an administration we have today. It is for these comparisons that presidential libraries maintain lasting value. Minor complaint is that the library somewhat de-emphasizes FDR's more regrettable decisions regarding that of Japanese-Americans in which he supported internment due to deep-seeded anti-Asian sentiments crystallized in the following quote not highlighted at the museum/library: "(T)he mingling of Asiatic blood with European or American blood produces, in nine cases out of ten, the most unfortunate results." High points include a limited-duration US propaganda poster exhibition, FDR's disability-modified automobile, as well as the park ranger's upbeat tour narration.

Visiting the FDR library is cool. First, it was the first presidential library, and it was also the only presidential library to be built AND used by the sitting president himself. When you walk in to the library, there are a bunch of letters that citizens sent to FDR. Most of them are friendly, supportive, and appreciative of his work, but some are accusatory and even damning: one father blames FDR for his son's death in Pearl Harbor. Just from that, you can tell FDR's commitment to America - he kept all records, good and bad, so the people could form their own opinion of his decisions, work, and legacy. Inside of the library, there are exhibits on the New Deal, his first 100 days in office, and the election and re-election campaigns. There is also a ton of memorabilia, like his office at the library, his desk from the Oval Office, and his car! You can see some os his painting collection and his model ship collection. And in addition to what you can see, the library has SCORES of documents, tapes, and things all behind the scenes. It really feels like a special treasure. Right now there is a special exhibit called "Day of Infamy: 24 hours that changed history." It's on view through December 31, 2016, so if you're planning to visit I'd definitely try to catch this!

I've been to almost all presidential libraries, and this one is one of the best! And it's the first! The area is gorgeous. The wealth this president enjoyed is jaw-dropping. The changes he ushered in are historical and pivotal. I wish all could experience Hyde Park! And no matter what your political view this experience is worth the time. And... the additional exhibit on Eleanor is a story we all need to hear and appreciate. Eleanor is perhaps more extraordinary than her husband! I wish I could post more than 50 pictures.

Really cool spot for the history buff, and even if your not, still very interesting. The grounds are beautiful with the museum and tours running to see the the inside of the house. When me and my fiancé went we opted to just walk around ourselves and not do the tour which was fine. You still get to see a lot of cool stuff. Walking through a timeline of FDRs life and everything that he did during his presidency was interesting. The staff was pleasant and no one bothered us walking around. The garden was really pretty during the spring/summer with roses all around. A great day trip to do and a nice walk back in time through history.

Awesome library on both levels!! All the papers of both FDR and Eleanor. The family mansion was exquisite! You could spend at least a day between those two alone! There is a shuttle for all locations.

Let's start with a trivia question: Which was the first presidential library constructed and the only one used by a sitting president? Made a day trip to visit the FDR house, library, and museum, followed by lunch at one of the four restaurants at the Culinary Institute of America. We got to the museum around 9:00 and hopped on the 9:15 guided tour. The plan was to finish with FDR by 12:15, catch our lunch reservation by 12:30, then head over to Eleanor Roosevelt's cottage at Val-Kill before it closed. At least that was the plan. Unfortunately, we never made a tour at Val-Kill because of how quickly they fill up. But this review isn't for Val-Kill. It's for FDR! So on to FDR ... Our tour group consisted of about 25 people. The guide was excellent. Unlike a lot of other tour guides, this one kept everyone's attention for the duration of the tour, including mine. His knowledge of FDR and the Roosevelt family was profound, or at least he did a good job pretending. He was very engaging and had answers to all of our questions. The tour of the house lasted about 1:30. Because our guide was so thorough, we had to rush through the museum/library in order to make our lunch reservation. (We got caught up reading the history on the first floor and didn't realize until about 11:45 that that museum/library had 2 floors)! Both the house and library are enormous, so do yourself a favor: get here early and plan on spending at least a half day. And for a $14 admission for adults (no discounts), you might as well get your money's worth!