Home of FDR National Historic Site

On our way out of Albany we stop at the FDR National Historic Site.
There's Franklin and Eleanor waiting for us.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's father,purchased the property for $40,000, at a time when a textile worker's earnings were less than a dollar a day In 1905, after Franklin and Eleanor married, they moved in with his mother.  In 1915 The size of the house was more than doubled by when they added the two field stone wings, a tower, and the third story with a flat roof which housed bedrooms for the children as well as a playroom.

The sitting room.

Dining Room

Library / Study

Next we go upstairs

The Elevator

The Chintz Room

The bed where FDR was born

FDR's Bedroom

Eleanor's Bedroom

Once upon a time you could see the Hudson River.

View of the backside.

Still a nice view

The Peace Monument with busts of FDR and Churchill.  The Sculpture "'Break
Free' is made from stone from the Berlin Wall, shows a man & a woman emerging from giant barbed wire, expressing Man's irresistible quest for freedom. It stands on a podium inscribed around the base with Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" Freedom of speech, Freedom of worship, Freedom from want & Freedom from fear.

The Rose Garden where FDR, Eleanor, and Fala (FDR’s Scottish terrier) are buried. 

Barn and Carriage House

So glad we stopped but wish we had time to do the Museum and Library as well

Schodack Island - Albany

Another 90 degree day so we decide to head into Albany to do a Museum and the Capitol Building

 The architecture in Albany is quite varied.  From Modern

 To Centuries old

 We head to the New York State Museum.  I am excited to see the Carousel.  

Of course it turns out the Museum is closed one day a week - and that would be today. 

 We take the underground passage to the New York State Capitol Building.

And a beautiful one it is.  Completed in 1899 it took 32 years to complete, and cost $25 million (equal to $735 million today)

 A look back to the Egg (performing arts center) and the Cultural Education Building in the back.  Agency buildings 1-4 on the Right and the Corning Tower on the Left.

 We finally get in after Gary goes outside and finds a hiding place for his jacknife.  We start at the Million Dollar staircase.  It took 14 years to construct, from 1883-1897 and cost over one million dollars

It contains 444 steps and reaches 119 feet high.  The carvings are incredible and the artists spent years on them making $5 a day.

The Senate Staircase

The Senate Chambers

New York State Hallway lined with paintings of New York State

Freedom of speech at work

The War Room or Governor's Reception Room

In the early 20th century, the space was to be a forty-foot high rotunda with ceiling murals chronicling important events in New York State’s military history.  When the paintings were completed, the floor was never removed.  The Reception room was created in 1995-97

An exhibit honoring the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in 1917

The Assembly Stairs

The Hall of Governors

It is an amazing beautiful building

We had tried to go the the Corning Observation deck on the way to the Capital Building but there was a large school group there so we stop on our way back hoping they are gone.

We have the place to ourselves and the views are amazing.

The Delaware and Hudson Railroad Building now houses the SUNY Administration

The RCA Dog

Sorry we missed the Museum but had a good visit anyway.

Schodack Island State Park

We arrive at Schodack Island State Park 

A nice large site next to the bathhouse which is nice because it is electric only.

Problems again with the landing gear.  We are told that the problem is a bad batter so Gary goes to town and gets it checked - it is bad so he gets another plus a 2nd battery so we can use our solar panel.  Still not   working after installing the batteries - we  finally check the fuses in the motor box.  They look good but simply taking them out and putting them back in seems to do the trick.

 Caleb's friend Brandon joins us during the day.  They try their hand at fishing but no luck here.

 It is a fairly new park in the NYS Park system - only 3 years old and is quite nice.  They have live music on Friday nights.

 and a nice playground

 Boys will be boys

There is a guided bike tour one day to the Ice House chimney.  It covers the women's right movement and how bicycles helped women at the time

 The guide is dressed in period Bike clothing

 The park has nice trails through the woods

The Ice House Chimney.  Ice was collected from the frozen  Hudson River.  The ice industry operated  from the 1870s to the 1920s when modern refrigeration and artificial ice became popular.  There were as many as 13 ice houses on Schodack Island. 

 Tucson gets his morning walks along the Hudson River

 Where you can see large ships passing through

 There are several blue bird boxes and they take care of the insects

  One day is is close to 90  so we head to nearby Grafton Lake State Park

 The boys enjoy the chilly water

 Gary and I park it in the shade and watch.  I notice some barn swallows flying back and forth to the snack bar.  I check it out and find this next of fledglings.

 

 Mom was in and out in less than a second and it took several attempts to get here feeding the babies.

On the way home we stop at the Riverfest in Troy, NY but it turns out they changed it this year - not on the River and ending at 3 p.m. so we get there just in time to see everyone breaking down

 There is a Dinosaur Bar B Que in town so we head there for dinner.

 The boys share a gigunda platter of ribs

 I had the salad with Brisket

Caleb is a huge train fan and had his heart set on seeing a restored 1924 steam engine Viscose No. 6

The boys pick the open car right behind the coal fired engine.  We decide it might be better on the one further back

 I think they are having a good time

 On the way out of the way home we check out the Pedestrian Bridge between Poughkeepsie and Highland NY.  The bridge deck stands 212 feet above the riverand is 6,768 feet (1.28 miles) long, making it the longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.

 The flag marks the 1/2 way point.

 We catch a nice sunset on the way home.