Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

The basics

The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site encompasses several different buildings and attractions. There’s the Stone Cottage Visitor Center, Val-Kill Cottage, and 1-hour Eleanor’s Walk trail through the grounds. The Val-Kill Cottage is the main attraction and can be visited on free guided tours. Learn about the history of the building—including how it started life as a furniture factory and joint business venture among Eleanor and two of her friends—and see artifacts related to the Roosevelts.

Things to know before you go

• There’s no entry fee. The free tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis from the Stone Cottage Visitor Center with no online bookings.

• Photography is allowed inside the Val-Kill Cottage but not flash photography, selfie sticks, or tripods.

• Val-Kill Cottage is not considered wheelchair-accessible as doorways are narrow and there’s no elevator. However, there is a ramp at one entrance.

How to get there

The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site is in Hyde Park, New York, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Poughkeepsie. It’s about halfway between New York City and Albany, and about 90 minutes drive from either city. The park can be reached by driving on the Taconic State Parkway, Route 9, or the New York State Thruway. Alternatively, you can take a train to Poughkeepsie and catch a taxi to the site.

When to get there

The grounds, trails, and gardens are open daily from early morning until early evening, except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. The opening hours of the Val-Kill Cottage vary by season, with later opening hours in summer. It's generally only open on the weekends in winter, so check the schedule before planning your visit.

Visit the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

West of the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to Eleanor’s husband, the 32nd president of the US. As well as housing research collections, the library and museum have permanent exhibits that are of interest to anyone wanting to know more about FDR’s life and work.