Take a look inside Franklin D. Roosevelt's 21,000-square-foot mansion where he entertained royals and world leaders

Talia LakritzJun 2, 2024, 20:18 IST

Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

President Franklin D. Roosevelt maintained a lifelong connection with Springwood, his family home.
He was raised at the property in Hyde Park, New York, and hosted dignitaries there as president.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's estate in Hyde Park, New York, is the only place in the US where a president was born, maintained a connection throughout his life, and is buried, according to the National Park Service.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential US presidents, Roosevelt was elected in 1932 and led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. Known for expansive government programs such as the New Deal, he died in office while serving an unprecedented fourth term in 1945.

Roosevelt's 21,000-square-foot family home, an Italianate-style villa known as Springwood, is open to the public as part of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park. Everything inside is original to the home.

Take a look inside the historic site.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's home, known as Springwood, is in Hyde Park, New York.

Historic sites in Hyde Park, New York.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

It's located on the grounds of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

As I began my walk to Springwood, I passed bronze statues of Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt.

Statues of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

A park ranger told me to follow the sign for the stables to reach Roosevelt's home.

Walking to FDR's home.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The stables still featured the names of the Roosevelt family's horses.

The stables at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The tour started outside Springwood as a park ranger spoke about the history of the home and the Roosevelt family.

Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The guide also pointed out a front portico that resembled the South Portico of the White House.

A balcony at Springwood reminiscent of the South Portico of the White House.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Entrance Hall was decorated with prints from Roosevelt's naval collection and editorial cartoons from the 18th century.

The Entrance Hall at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Entrance Hall also featured Roosevelt's boyhood bird collection and a bronze statue of him at age 29.

A bronze statue of FDR.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

In the Dining Room, Roosevelt sat at the head of the table in the seat pulled out on the left.

The Dining Room at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

After dinner, guests would move to the Dresden Room, which functioned as a sitting room.

The Dresden Room at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

A foldable ramp made the stairs leading into the Library accessible for Roosevelt's wheelchair.

A removable ramp at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

In the Library, Roosevelt met with world leaders and dignitaries.

The Library at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The room also featured a portrait of Roosevelt painted by Ellen Emmet Rand.

The Library at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The tour continued upstairs with the Pink Room, which functioned as a guest room.

The Pink Room at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Another guest room was used by his political advisors.

A guest room at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Chintz Room was also used as a guest room for important visitors.

The Chintz Room at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Roosevelt was born in the Blue Room on January 30, 1882.

The Blue Room at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Growing up, Roosevelt slept in this bedroom until he married Eleanor in 1905.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's childhood bedroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The hallway leading to the primary bedrooms included a unique piece of decor: a mirror mounted on a 45-degree angle.

A hallway mirror used by the Secret Service.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Roosevelt's mother, Sara Roosevelt, slept in a bedroom at the end of the hall.

Sara Roosevelt's room.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Eleanor moved into a smaller bedroom connected to Roosevelt's room after he became sick with polio.

Eleanor Roosevelt's bedroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Roosevelt's bedroom windows featured views of the Hudson River.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's bedroom at Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Beside his bed, a designated phone provided a direct, secure line to the White House.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's direct line to the White House.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Our tour guide ended his presentation with a surprising detail: the clothes hanging in Roosevelt's bedroom closet.

FDR's clothes in his bedroom closet.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

As I exited Springwood through the south lawn, I was greeted by stunning views of the Hudson Valley.

A view of the Hudson Valley from Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Visitors could also pay their respects at the Roosevelts' burial site in Springwood's rose garden.

The burial site of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Roosevelt's legacy lives on in his presidential library and museum, the construction of which he oversaw himself.

The visitor's center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

He was the first US president to establish a library to house papers and artifacts from his political career, a model that every president since has followed.

The gift shop at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Springwood remains a meaningful historical site memorializing one of America's most prominent presidents.

Springwood.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

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Take a look inside Franklin D. Roosevelt's 21,000-square-foot mansion where he entertained royals and world leaders

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's home, known as Springwood, is in Hyde Park, New York.

It's located on the grounds of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

As I began my walk to Springwood, I passed bronze statues of Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt.

A park ranger told me to follow the sign for the stables to reach Roosevelt's home.

The stables still featured the names of the Roosevelt family's horses.

The tour started outside Springwood as a park ranger spoke about the history of the home and the Roosevelt family.

The guide also pointed out a front portico that resembled the South Portico of the White House.

The Entrance Hall was decorated with prints from Roosevelt's naval collection and editorial cartoons from the 18th century.

The Entrance Hall also featured Roosevelt's boyhood bird collection and a bronze statue of him at age 29.

In the Dining Room, Roosevelt sat at the head of the table in the seat pulled out on the left.

After dinner, guests would move to the Dresden Room, which functioned as a sitting room.

A foldable ramp made the stairs leading into the Library accessible for Roosevelt's wheelchair.

In the Library, Roosevelt met with world leaders and dignitaries.

The room also featured a portrait of Roosevelt painted by Ellen Emmet Rand.

The tour continued upstairs with the Pink Room, which functioned as a guest room.

Another guest room was used by his political advisors.

The Chintz Room was also used as a guest room for important visitors.

Roosevelt was born in the Blue Room on January 30, 1882.

Growing up, Roosevelt slept in this bedroom until he married Eleanor in 1905.

The hallway leading to the primary bedrooms included a unique piece of decor: a mirror mounted on a 45-degree angle.

Roosevelt's mother, Sara Roosevelt, slept in a bedroom at the end of the hall.

Eleanor moved into a smaller bedroom connected to Roosevelt's room after he became sick with polio.

Roosevelt's bedroom windows featured views of the Hudson River.

Beside his bed, a designated phone provided a direct, secure line to the White House.

Our tour guide ended his presentation with a surprising detail: the clothes hanging in Roosevelt's bedroom closet.

As I exited Springwood through the south lawn, I was greeted by stunning views of the Hudson Valley.

Visitors could also pay their respects at the Roosevelts' burial site in Springwood's rose garden.

Roosevelt's legacy lives on in his presidential library and museum, the construction of which he oversaw himself.

He was the first US president to establish a library to house papers and artifacts from his political career, a model that every president since has followed.

Springwood remains a meaningful historical site memorializing one of America's most prominent presidents.