Once again the doors to our national treasures in Hyde Park will be opened for a series of free holiday events for families to enjoy. Celebrations that have now become traditional will be mounted at the FDR Presidential Library and Home and the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site at Val-Kill, each giving visitors a glimpse into history during this special time of year and extending the legacy of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt to new generations. In a presidency remarkable for its recognition of the need for equitable economic and social rights, the Roosevelts epitomized a sense of optimism, activism and egalitarian good will. It is fitting that the public is invited to experience FDR’s Springwood and Eleanor’s Val-Kill fully decked for the holidays as they were during the Roosevelt presidency.
On December 5, the Roosevelt Library and the Home of FDR National Historic Site will be open to visitors free of charge from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Readings from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will take place in Springwood, and visitors at the Roosevelt Library will have a chance to see the special exhibition “Action, and Action Now: FDR’s First 100 Days.” There will be refreshments and special activities in the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center all afternoon.
Echoing FDR’s appreciation of literature, the fourth annual Children’s Book Festival will take place in the Henry A. Wallace Center from noon to 5 p.m., presented by the Roosevelt Library and the National Park Service. With special readings by authors of children’s literature, the afternoon promises to be a full one. Scheduled to read and autograph copies of their books are Iza Trapani, Susanna Hill, Della Ferreri, Doreen Rappaport and Hudson Talbott; their featured books will be available for purchase in the New Deal Store in the Wallace Center.
Acclaimed musicians Dog on Fleas will perform at 4 p.m. in the Wallace Center. In addition, there will be opportunities for free photos with Santa from 1 to 3 p.m., and children can make holiday cards for sailors stationed on the USS Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt throughout the afternoon. Admission to Val-Kill will also be free to visitors from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 5. Refreshments and music will be provided by the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historical Association. There will be no onsite parking that day, so visitors to Val-Kill are required to take a shuttle from Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library.
For a taste of true opulence, visit the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, which will be decorated for the holidays from November 29 through January 3, 2010. A Holiday Open House is scheduled for Saturday, December 12 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is free of charge on that day only, and visitors can enjoy live music and refreshments provided by the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historical Association while wandering through this Gilded Age treasure. Parking is limited during this event, so carpooling is recommended. For more information call the Roosevelt Library at (845) 486-7745 or the National Park Service at (845) 229-6214, or visit www.HistoricHydePark.org.