Honoring Eleanor Roosevelt: A Project to Preserve Her Val-Kill Home |
 
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Val-Kill
re-opens after renovations By
Lindsey Siegriest The renovated Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, known as Val-Kill, recently re-opened with a new exhibit titled "Simple and Direct." "We've had quite a few people in so far who have really liked the exhibit," Francesca Urbin, supervisory park ranger, said. "These improvements were very much needed." The Hyde Park historic site was closed for 10 months for the renovation. The new exhibit features photographs of Roosevelt's life in Hyde Park and of her on some of her travels. They were taken by her physician, friend and traveling companion, Dr. A. David Gurewitsch, and will be on display for about a year at the site. Save America's Treasures helped raise more than $1 million over the past six years for the historic site. Honoring Eleanor Roosevelt: Preserving Her Val-Kill Home is a priority project of Save America's Treasures, an organization that strives to rescue, restore and promote the country's historic sites, monuments and artifacts. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton founded the organization in 1998 when she was first lady. Funded the film "We funded the new exhibit and introductory film," said Carol Hillman, chairwoman of the Honoring Eleanor Roosevelt project. "We're now working to help create other new exhibits to go on display in the Playhouse and apartments, and to create a film of the grounds." The north side of the Playhouse at Val-Kill was renovated to restore the historic appearance of the building, which created space for the new exhibit. The new introductory film is being shown in the Playhouse and is titled "Close to Home." Anne Makepeace, a producer of documentary films, directed the 15-minute film. It contains quotes from Roosevelt spoken by herself and actress Jane Alexander, who played her in two made-for-television productions. The fee collection area, bookstore and restrooms were also redesigned during the renovation. Positive reactions "People have been very impressed with our new bookstore," Urbin said. "We've also gotten really nice feedback about the new film. People are really enjoying it." Val-Kill is the only National Park Service historic site dedicated to a first lady. The home first served as a retreat for the Roosevelt family. Upon Franklin D. Roosevelt's death in 1945, it became Eleanor's permanent home, and is where she wrote her My Day column and worked on the Declaration of Human Rights. "Eleanor Roosevelt is a beacon of light for people who care about human rights, civil rights and peace," Hillman said. "Her legacy is one that we feel should be preserved and extended so people can take action themselves." Back |
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