Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic SiteAbout Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site preserves Val-Kill, the home and workplace associated with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, in Hyde Park, New York; it is the only National Park Service site dedicated to a First Lady.
The site includes the house and surrounding grounds where Eleanor Roosevelt lived and conducted many of her private and public activities; visitors come for house tours, interpretive exhibits, and to see the restored landscape that supported her programs.
Val-Kill served as Eleanor Roosevelt’s personal retreat and a center for some of her social and political initiatives during the 20th century. The property later entered preservation to interpret her life and legacy.
The site sits in Hyde Park on the east bank of the Hudson River in Dutchess County, north of Poughkeepsie and within New York’s Hudson Valley.
Nearby Attractions to Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Best Time to Visit Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Best from late spring through early autumn for comfortable weather and the option to enjoy the house and surrounding grounds.
Weather & Climate near Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -9°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1108 mm/year), wettest in May, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -9° - 1° | -9° | 79 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -8° - 3° | -7° | 68 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -3° - 9° | -1° | 88 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 3° - 16° | 7° | 95 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 8° - 22° | 15° | 113 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 13° - 26° | 20° | 98 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 16° - 29° | 23° | 108 mm | - | - | 2.4 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 15° - 28° | 22° | 97 mm | - | - | 2.2 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 11° - 23° | 17° | 95 mm | - | - | 2.4 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 4° - 17° | 11° | 89 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 0° - 11° | 3° | 93 mm | - | - | 3.0 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -6° - 4° | -5° | 85 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill) is in Hyde Park, New York, along the route 9 corridor near other Hyde Park historic sites. It is most easily reached by car from Poughkeepsie and the surrounding Hudson Valley via US‑9; the drive from Poughkeepsie is a short one (roughly a 10-15 minute drive). There is limited public transit in the area, so visitors commonly use car, taxi, or regional shuttle services.
Tips for Visiting Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
- Reserve a guided tour in advance via the National Park Service-Val‑Kill tours are limited in size and times can fill, especially in summer.
- Combine your visit with the nearby FDR sites (museum and library) to get fuller historical context and to make the most of visiting hours in Hyde Park.
- Arrive for the first tour of the day to experience the house and grounds with fewer people and to hear more of the ranger‑led interpretation.