Some History Lessons Today!

 Well, so much for having a slow paced, relaxing day.  No rest for the weary!

Another beautiful morning, so we were able to eat breakfast outside.  By 9:30 we were on our way to Hyde Park, NY to visit the mansion of Frederick Vanderbilt.  What a setting and "over the top" home!  Frederick was the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt  and the son of William Henry Vanderbilt, both the richest men in America for their time.  They built their empire through the railroads. Frederick inherited 10 million dollars and unlike all of his siblings, he increased the inheritance he received at age 29 to 70 million by the time he died.  His siblings just spent the money! He purchased a 600 acre parcel of land and built this home which we toured today.  He had a staff of 60 to maintain the house year round and he and his wife (12 years his senior, so no children) only stayed in this retreat for a few weeks in the spring and fall and for an occasion weekend in the winter.  They spent summers at Newport or cruising on their yacht, and the winter social season in their NYC townhouse.  All the furniture, draperies, tapestries, woodwork, ceilings, and urns were incredible.  They loved to throw lavish parties, sometimes costing as much as 1/2 a million dollars for a special weekend with their guests!

The "smallest" Vanderbilt mansion!  Not bad!!!

The foyer where the guests were greeted by the owners!

Frederick's den/office!

Louise's study/sitting room!

The magnificent dining room.

This is the ceiling of the formal DR!

This is Louise's gold gilted BR.

Frederick's BR walls were covered with huge tapestries and
lots of dark wood!

The sitting area in Frederick's BR!

The flower gardens were amazing too!  It is hard to imagine that this home was one of the smallest of all the Vanderbilt mansions.  

The flower gardens and all bricked areas and fountains
were exceptional!

Even included a water lily pond!

From there we headed to the home, presidential library and museum of FDR.  We ate lunch in their small cafe and then the tour of the property began.  We had a wonderful Ranger tour guide who was so animated and informative.  So easy to listen to.  She walked us around the grounds and then gave us lots of additional info while touring the inside of the Roosevelt home, Springwood.  FDR was born here and after his marriage to Eleanor, they lived in this home with their 5 children (1 died at 8 months) along with FDR's mother, Sara.  She made life rather "tough" for Eleanor.  Compared to the Vanderbilt home, this was a very modest property.  The furniture was rather ordinary for the time as well as the wall coverings, window drapes, etc.  After contacting polio, FDR's upper strength was amazing and he would get to the 2nd floor by getting into the large dumb waiter and pulling himself up with large ropes!  The stable building was built by FDR's father and is so unique and beautiful.    He always considered Springwood his home and place to return to whenever possible, so he was buried on this property in the beautiful gardens!

As their family size increased, the Roosevelts added the 3rd
floor for the children and the stone wings on each side

The formal LR was very large but very comfortable!

The sitting area off of the formal DR

The dumb waiter FDR used to get to the 2nd floor!

One of the guest rooms!

This is the BR where FDR was born!

Aren't these stables buildings just beautiful????

The gravesite of FDR in the beautiful gardens!

We didn't have enough time to tour the library and museum, but hope to do that sometime.  After leaving Springwood, we drove to Poughkeepsie to do the Walkway Over the Hudson.  (As if we didn't have a busy enough day!!!)  We did the 2 1/2 mile trek over and back  and it was very warm!  It is a 
beautiful walk. 

Sculptures of freedom of FDR and Churchill cut out
from pieces of the Berlin wall.  These are to the rear of the
FDR Library and Museum!

A view from the bridge over the Hudson!

Quite a bridge for just walkers and bikers!

The happy "busy" people!

We stopped at Wal-Mart and Gander Mountain Store on the way back to the CG.  We only returned to Waldo at 7 - a long day!  Maybe tomorrow will be a slow down day!  What are the odds?????