An outstanding resource, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and
Museum, which is administered by the National Archives and Records
Administration, is located near FDR's Springwood estate. The first
presidential library - and the only one used by its namesake while in office
- it was planned and designed by Roosevelt in the Dutch colonial style. It
houses his official papers, books, and other memorabilia, as well as the
papers of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The library's study was the scene of
several of the president's popular "fireside chats." It remains as it was
when FDR used it during his third and fourth terms.
The museum
exhibits focus on all aspects of FDR's life, from his boyhood through his
presidency. On display are everything from his childhood rocking horse,
campaign memorabilia, a recreation of his White House map room, the desk he
used in the Oval Office, and his 1936 Ford Phaeton, which was refitted with
hand levers so FDR could drive it. There are also exhibits tracing the life
and accomplishments of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Nearby, the new Henry A.
Wallace Visitor and Education Center at the FDR Presidential Library and
Home offers orientation to the Roosevelt legacy through a film and exhibits,
and includes a seasonal café and museum shop. It is also a venue for
educational programs, lectures, seminars, and workshops for a wide range of
audiences.
The FDR Presidential Library and Museum and Wallace
Visitor Center are open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from November-March and 9 a.m.-6
p.m. from April-October. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Admission fee.