NPS About This BlogWelcome to Viewshed: The Blog of Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Viewshed is a forum for stories related to the National Park Service sites of Hyde Park, New York, written by park employees, park partners, and guests. Here, you can read about our park’s museum collections, the life and times of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, the Gilded age culture in which the Vanderbilts thrived, as well as the people who work at our park to preserve and interpret these histories. We hope these posts leave you with a greater understanding of the National Historic Sites of Hyde Park, their histories, and their impact. Enjoy! The Vanderbilt Laundry Rooms
June 09, 2022
While the bedrooms and sitting rooms of the Vanderbilt Mansion look familiar to the modern eye, the laundry rooms may look a little foreign to those of us accustomed to modern conveniences. Read on to learn more about these special rooms and the servants who worked hard within them. Franklin Roosevelt and Saratoga: Creating a National Park
April 14, 2022
Happy National Park Week! In this post, Ranger Mike details the efforts of Franklin D. Roosevelt and others to establish a new National Park: Saratoga National Historical Park. "Lady Death" and the First Lady
February 23, 2022
Lyudmila Pavlichenko, better known to her German foes as "Lady Death", was a Soviet sniper, and one of the most successful in the history of modern warfare with 309 confirmed kills. In addition to her accomplishments on the battlefield, she also befriended First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1942. Check out this post to learn more about "Lady Death" and her friendship with Mrs. Roosevelt. Searching for the Sexton Tract
January 19, 2022
Just to the north of the Vanderbilt Mansion once existed a separate estate. The National Park Service now calls this the Sexton Tract. Do any remnants of this estate still exist on the landscape? We did a bit of sleuthing to find out... The Employee Experience: Marge Farnett
December 17, 2021
After 39 years at Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Ranger Marge Farnett retired in November 2021. In this post, Marge shares with us some of her favorite memories of working at the Vanderbilt Mansion, as well as some insights on what has changed here over the years. Happy retirement, Marge! The Vanderbilt Powerhouse
December 01, 2021
Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt's Hyde Park mansion featured cutting edge innovations for the 1890s, including electric lights. To generate the power for these lights, the Vanderbilts had their own powerhouse. Nestled in the woods along the Crum Elbow Creek, the machinery in this building allowed the Vanderbilts to be be on the forefront of technology. Read this post to find out how it all worked! Mr. and Mrs. Plog Remember Their Time as Roosevelt Employees
November 10, 2021
William Plog served on the Roosevelt family's Hyde Park estate for over fifty years. Adapted from oral histories given by Plog and his wife, Josephine, this post chronicles what it was like to work for one of the most famous families of 20th century America. The Employee Experience : Elizabeth Nicholson
September 10, 2021
Elizabeth Nicholson spent her summer as an intern in the National Park Service's Traditional Trades Apprenticeship Program. Among the biggest projects that she, fellow intern Marie, and Roosevelt-Vanderbilt maintenance staff completed was replacing the roof on the large ice house at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Read on to learn more about this project and other experiences Elizabeth had at the park this summer. The 1936 Berlin Olympics and the Controversy of U.S. Participation
July 24, 2021
The Olympic Games are meant to promote cooperation and peace between participating countries. This is not always the case, however, as shown by the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. Read on to learn more about the controversies surrounding the Games and how sports and politics collided on the eve of World War II. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Tree Farmer
June 23, 2021
Among Franklin D. Roosevelt's many passions were trees and conservation. He grew a wide variety of trees on his estate in Hyde Park and considered himself to be a "tree farmer." Read on to learn more about this life-long interest of our 32nd President's! Gilded Age Fashion
May 12, 2021
Ever wonder what wealthy people like the Vanderbilt's wore during the Gilded Age? Check out this blog post to learn more about the styles of this lavish era. The Employee Experience: Franceska Macsali-Urbin
April 18, 2021
This year for National Park Week, we highlight the career of Franceska Macsali-Urbin, Supervisory Park Ranger here at Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Fran is one of our longest-tenured employees, and was part of the team that prepared Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill) for public visitation. Below are some memories from her career with the National Park Service to kick off our blog series that will feature park employees: The Employee Experience The Dying President
April 10, 2021
April 12, 2021 marks the 76th anniversary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's death. This timeline chronicles FDR's long final illness, what was perhaps the greatest challenge of his very difficult presidency. Women's History Month Spotlight: Alva Vanderbilt Belmont
March 31, 2021
The fascinating life and legacy of Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, Frederick Vanderbilt's one-time sister-in-law. Women's History Month Spotlight: Beatrix Jones Farrand
March 15, 2021
This Women's History Month, we highlight one of the most influential landscape architects of the 20th century: Beatrix Jones Farrand. One of the more than 200 gardens that she designed during her prolific career is here in Hyde Park at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site! |
Last updated: March 18, 2021
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