Hudson River Valley
Vanderbilt Mansion
By Claire Pamplin
“Thank God for the Vanderbilts," a society columnist once wrote. "The Vanderbilt family can always be relied upon in times of dullness to furnish either news or a sensation of some kind." You could also rely upon the Vanderbilts to build fabulous houses as expressions of their nearly limitless wealth. All eight grandchildren of "the" Vanderbilt—Cornelius ("Commodore")—owned mansions on Fifth Avenue in New York City as well as country "cottages."
The famous Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park was built by the Commodore's grandson Frederick, who bought Hyde Park, as the property was known, in 1895. The family eventually donated the property to the federal government, and it has been open to the public since 1940. Except for some of the owner's belongings, the mansion and its contents remain unchanged from the time the Vanderbilt's lived here, as if their country retreat were ready for a weekend visit.
Visitors can tour the home and the visitor center, which has exhibits and a bookstore. The grounds feature breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the distant Catskill Mountains. The Formal Gardens, once abandoned, have been restored.
Walkways are paved. The paths to the gardens are made of gravel and generally wide and level. A 3.3-mile trail connects the Vanderbilt estate with Franklin D. Roosevelt's home. Bicycles are prohibited on the unpaved trails. Although these trails are typically wide and level, some parts are steep, wet, and rough. See MAP of the FDR/Vanderbilt grounds.
Regularly scheduled tours or self-guided tours are offered, depending on visitation level. National Park Service rangers give talks on a regular basis. Programs vary and include themes dealing with the lifestyle of the Vanderbilts and their contemporaries, industrial expansion, turn-of-the-century technology, and landscape architecture.
The Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historical Association carries books, postcards, and other items for sale in the visitor center on the grounds. The mansion and visitor center are accessible by wheelchair. Parking for buses, RVs, and handicapped visitors is available.
Visitors can purchase a combination pass to the Home of FDR National Historic Site, FDR Library & Museum, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, and Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site at a reduced cost. There is no lodging or camping at the Vanderbilt Mansion. There are a wide variety of hotels, motels, and camping sites in the area. You can find shopping, restaurants, and grocery stores in Hyde Park. For more information, call Dutchess County Tourism.
For contact information about the Hudson Valley region in general, see Practicalities page.
Return to  Top
|
