Sunday, May 6

Vanderbilt Estate

View of Hudson Valley from Olana

Today was spent driving through the countryside of the mid Hudson Valley.  There are many points of interest concentrated in this area.  Here are a few of the highlights:
1.   Franklin D. Roosevelt - Presidential Library & Museum  -  Featuring FDR's Hyde Park home and

FDR's Hyde Park Home

America's first presidential library.  It was designed by FDR and is the only one ever used by a sitting president.  (Charlie, a lifetime Republican and conservative, couldn't bring himself to endure this tour and read the Sunday paper in the parking lot).   *The General, my Grandfather and a contemporary of FDR's, would not allow FDR's image in his house, including  Roosevelt dimes.
2.   Vanderbilt Estate - Designed and decorated in the regal manner that this family favored.  It's as if they considered  themselves "America's Royalty".  Furnished with many European antiques, tapestries & paintings, this one is relatively "modest" as it only served as a Spring and Fall residence.
3.   Olana - Home, studio and estate of the Hudson River School artist, Frederic Edwin Church (1826 - 1900), one of the most important artists in American history.  In an era before photography, his sweeping landscapes depicted nature's beauty.
What was especially interesting about visiting this property was how he framed the picturesque landscape of his country estate, which he designed in a Moorish style as he was quite taken with the Middle East after a visit there during the 1850's.   Within the home, windows perfectly framed the views.    He approached landscape gardening as a fine art, creating and enhancing views through the perfect placement of trees, shrubs & ponds.  From atop this hillside property the views of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains are breathtaking.
Finally we took a stroll through Kingston, one of the many quaint villages that line the Hudson River. Tomorrow we will continue cruising up the Hudson - probably in the rain - but we hope not!