The Val-Kill property is an isolated parcel of land on the Roosevelt family estate in Hyde Park where, in1925, a small stone house and a workshop were built specifically to be used by Eleanor Roosevelt and her friends. The house was used as a retreat and the workshop was a base for their experiment in providing winter work for local families through handcrafts such as furniture-making, metalwork and weaving. The experiment was not successful and the workshop became Eleanor’s home where she lived from 1945 until her death in 1962.
The stone house is a small museum. We were disappointed in the presentation which barely touched on Eleanor Roosevelt’s work for universal human rights. A guided tour is given of the house. The furnishings are original or exact reproductions so that it looks like it did when Eleanor lived there.
The museum is accessible except for one room which has a step down. The house tour covers the first level only and is accessible.
The parking lot has long RV/bus spaces. A gravel road leads to the house. A shuttle is provided for visitor who have trouble walking but it’s not wheelchair accessible. Val- Kill
41.76167, -73.90021
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