Hyde Park, NY

Hyde Park is a stone's throw from Rhinebeck NY, I mean right around the corner.  You know, Rhinebeck, where Chelsea Clinton is getting married on Saturday.   Well we made it on time, but the invite must have gotten lost in the mail.  I called home and Mom assures me, it's not there.  So we will have to find some other way to entertain our selves.

The Vanderbilt & Roosevelt Mansions are located in Hyde Park. We toured both of these stately homes on Wed. with Rich & Laura from the Laura Lee. 

The FDR Presidential Library and Museum were also located on the property.   He was the first president to give his papers to the American people, and they form  the core of the library's research archives.  Today it houses over 17 million pages of manuscript materials, 51,000 books, and 150,000 photographs, negatives, and audio-visual items.

Some interesting facts that I did not know and some that I just forgot, about FDR.

• The Library was the first Presidential Library and the only one to be completed and used while the president held office.
• On March 4, 1933 when FDR took office for the first time, the unemployment rate was 25%.
• His first 100 days in office, he drafted 100 pieces of legislation.
• For 8 years he led the country through the Great Depression. In 1940 the nation reelected him  to an  unprecedented third term.
• Amid a separate epic crisis - World War II, the nation would reelect him for a fourth term. In all  Roosevelt would serve over 12 years, longer than any other president.
• He died 3 months into his fourth term, missing the ending of World War II by one month.
• FDR drafted the legislation to institute Social Security.
• His wife Eleanor, was his fifth cousin, once removed.

            The Frederick Vanderbilt Mansion
                The Vanderbilts of Hyde Park

The Frederick Vanderbilt Mansion sits high above the Hudson River, just as FDR'S home does.  The views of the river & valley below are spectacular.  Again like FDR's home, inside photography was not permitted.  The Vanderbilt mansion is also a National Historic Site.  Frederick Vanderbilt is one of eight children,  grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and son of William Henry Vanderbilt. Both the richest men in America at the time.

 In 1878 Frederick married Louise Anthony Torrance, 12 years his senior and recently divorced from one of his cousins. They married against the wishes of his parents,  as punishment, Frederick only inherited $10 million. Over time Louise became one of William Henry's favorites.  Unlike any of his brothers he managed to increase the  $10 million into $70 million by the time he died. His accomplishments were impressive, he sat on the boards of 22 railroads, he was the director of the New York Central for 61 years

Frederick & Louise never had any children, Louise died 12 years before Frederick .  Louise's niece inherited the estate upon Fredericks death in 1938.    She told President Franklin Roosevelt, a neighbor and close friend of the Vanderbilt's to donate the house and grounds, (211 acres) to the Government as a National monument to her Uncle Fred. Frederick Vanderbilt was also very generous to his  staff,  leaving a portion of his wealth to them and various charities.

By the way, George  Vanderbilt, the youngest of the eight children, built the biggest home of all the children, 250 rooms.  He built the "Biltmore Estate" in Asheville,  NC

Manhattan to Haverstraw on the Hudson & West Point

The Hudson River is lined on one side by New Jersey and the other by New York both cities offer gorgeous views from the water. We had blue skies and warm weather, with lower humidity levels, making it a very comfortable day.

Once in Haverstraw we plan on renting a car with Rich & Laura and going to USMA (Unites States Military Academy), commonly known as West Point.  Named for being the most Western point on the  western shore of the Hudson river in NY.  The proper term is USMA @ West Point.

More Manhattan

Riding the sub way was a new experience for us, it can be a bit confusing, but once you get the schedule straight it is a great way to get around.  The sub way station was very hot, no air movement, I was relieved to find the sub way cars were air conditioned.  We visited Times Square, the United Nations, and Central Park where we took a carriage ride.

In Times Square it seems every building has a video screen on it.  The following is a description according to Wikipedia. Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. The extended Times Square area, also called the Theatre District, consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eighth Avenues from east to west, and West 40th and West 53rd Streets from south to north, making up the western part of the commercial area of Midtown Manhattan.

These pictures were from the outside of the United Nations building

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. With a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m), it was the longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903, and the first steel-wire suspension bridge. Begun in 1867 and ultimately completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is now the city's best-known symbol of the age of growth that seized the city during the late 19th century.

Here are some shots of Liberty Landing Marina that we stayed at. I have done laundry in a lot of different kind of buildings, some even on the outside in Florida, but this was a first. The red ship is where the laundry facilities were for this Marina. They are in the process of completing the building you see in the background, and that is where the laundry will be moved to.

I have taken so many pictures of this fascinating city, I can't possibly post even a 1/4 of them.  The architecture is unbelievable.  I have tried to label each picture, so if you double click on the picture it will enlarge and you will see a description.

Central Park pictures, and the carriage with "Joey" the horse that took us through Central Park.

Ellis Island, Lady Liberty, Manhattan NY & Jersey City, NJ

                                       Fun Facts about the Statue of Liberty

If you have ever visited the Statue of Liberty in person, you already know she's an imposing figure, but consider the following fun facts:


• Official dedication ceremonies held on Thursday, October 28, 1886


• Total overall height from the base of the pedestal foundation to the tip of the torch is 305 feet, 6 inches


• Height of the Statue from her heel to the top of her head is 111 feet, 6 inches


• The face on the Statue of Liberty measures more than 8 feet tall


• There are 154 steps from the pedestal to the head of the Statue of Liberty


• A tablet held in her left hand measures 23' 7" tall and 13' 7" wide inscribed with the date JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776)


• The Statue has a 35-foot waistline


• There are seven rays on her crown, one for each of the seven continents, each measuring up to 9 feet in length and weighing as much as 150 pounds


• Total weight of the Statue of Liberty is 225 tons (or 450,000 pounds)


• At the feet of the Statue lie broken shackles of oppression and tyranny


• During the restoration completed in 1986, the new torch was carefully covered with thin sheets of 24k gold


• The exterior copper covering of the Statue of Liberty is 3/32 of an inch thick (less than the thickness of two pennies) and the light green color (called a patina) is the result of natural weathering of the copper


Our journey from the Atlantic into New York Harbor was filled with boats of all sizes. Huge ships coming and going, freighters, container ships, sailboats, power boats, fishing boats, tour boats, water taxis and cruise ships, it is a very busy port. And the thrill of seeing Lady Liberty from our own boat was a pretty amazing feeling.

Liberty Landing Marina is just to the left in the harbor before you enter the Hudson River. We arrived on Sunday 7/18/10 and will stay for a week, leaving on the 25th and heading up the Hudson River. The marina is on the New Jersey side of the harbor with Manhattan across the water. A short ride on the water taxi takes you across to all the sounds and sights of the city. We made about 3 trips into Manhattan to sight see. I have tried to capture in pictures some of the architecture, parks, and emotion that make up this exciting city.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A visit to St. Paul's chapels was a touching experience.  St. Paul's was the sanctuary for  rest, prayers, and food for the thousands of rescue workers after 911.  Visitors still flood this chapel in memory of all that was lost on that tragic day.  And out of all that was bad, rose the spirit and love from the people of this great country.

Walking toward the southern tip of Manhattan, we came to Battery Park and Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park.   In the middle of blocks and blocks of concrete, glass and steel, sprouts a beautiful park offering much needed shade from the heat & humidity.