So we were in our hotel “home” and looking at distances from here to there, and just generally doing research on where we want to go. While we were doing some research, it revealed that the Capitols in the New England area are not open on the weekends. That totally destroyed all our plans for the New England Capitols as we were going to see Hartford, Connecticut on our way to Newport, Rhode Island. Also, we had planned to see Albany, New York on our way to Niagara Falls – on a Sunday. So bummed. Anyway, good thing we’re flexible so we decided to just do Albany today.
We got up and had breakfast at the hotel. Not a great selection but they had cereal, yogurt, bread, and something similar to coffee. The weather was cold and very overcast.
It was a cold grey day starting out, and it got worse.
The drive to Albany, New York was a little over 60 miles and Clarece (our GPS) took us mostly on the Turnpike. As we drove the weather kept getting colder and there was hail, quite a bit of hail, and some snow. We were getting a little worried but we made it and even found a parking spot not that far from the Capitol.
They were spreading sand.It was freezing.Albany is a town of churches and a river.Albany skyline is interesting looking.
Albany looked like a fun town with old buildings and new modern buildings mixed in. The Capitol looked more like a French Chateau to us than a State Capitol.
Our first glimpse of the Capitol and we didn’t realize it.Reminded us of St. Louis and French influences.
We got through security, no problem, and headed to the tour desk. We were told the tour started at 11:00 AM, which was about a 30 minute wait. We were invited to walk around on our own. Went to the bathroom, and then we went into a Dunkin Donuts inside the Capitol. Can you believe that? Anyway, wasn’t worth the $5.00 we spent on coffee and a few donut holes.
Our Capitol selfie.One foot up, wounded.Sheridan.Just past security. They are very open and let you stroll on your own.The paintings are very large. I used pretty woman for scale.Grant history.Laid in state for a night on this spot.
The tour started right on time and was guided by Hal. He was quite the character, 76 years old and from New York. He had major control issues and told us when and where to take pictures. Too funny.
Hal establishing his control.
He took us up an old and original Otis elevator (beautiful), into both chambers, saw the Library, took us to the Hall of Governors, the different staircases, told the different ghost stories, and just was a font of information. The Capitol was lovely and huge.
The best elevator door in all the states so far, and I suspect through the end of this journey.Inside the elevator. For years there was an attendant. When they went automatic they removed the screen door and put a glass with the old screen molded into the glass.There are three sets of stairs in the Capitol.All hand carved.Photos don’t do it justice.Faces carved throughout.
Hand carved everywhere.Even the flat pieces on the wall have lines carved into them.Faces by the hundreds.
The building was built with wiring by Edison.Many of the faces are known and labeled. Many are relatives, wives and children of the carvers.Different skylight.Stairs.House Chambers. Solid gold panels on the walls, hammered.Extravagant.An acoustically perfect ceiling. No microphones needed anywhere. Representatives go into the over-sized fireplace to have a private conversation.House – beautiful glass and marble walls.Great columns and hand carved capitals.House from the gallery.Interior of door hinges.State seal on some of the door knobs.Really nice hinges.The library.Library was off limits to us. Pretty woman stuck her phone through the door.She got both ends.Hall explaining history.Senate chambers, very impressive.They could not afford wood and put in painted paper mache to look like wood.Bills on the tablet, vote buttons, microphones because it is not real wood on the ceiling.Nice hallway.The woman’s movement got its start in New York.Many walls are covered with granite samples from around the state.Prelude to the Hall of Governors.State seal rug.Hall of New York.Col Roosevelt.Unknown soldier.
Many iterations of the state seal.The hall.
State seal.T. Roosevelt.Distant cousin, FDR.There must have been 50 of these giant light fixtures.Federal style.Ante office of a senator, with gold on the walls.Lovely everywhere you look.View out a side door at the Capitol.Some really rough roads. I am checking my alignment when we get home.
We left and headed back down state to Hyde Park, New York – destination FDR Library and home. Clarece took us on the Turnpike for a few miles, but then she got us off on some rural roads that went through a winter wonderland. She even took us over the lovely Rip Van Winkle Bridge.
Rip Van Winkle bridge gate house.The bridge.
We got to the FDR Library at around 3:00 PM and went to the museum to check it out before the 4:00 PM tour of the home (last tour of the day). We want to go back as we only touched the surface and he was a fascinating man. What surprised me the most was the similarities of then and now. Kinda scary.
Entrance.
Really accurate statues and benches and chair.
Correspondence by the ton.A very refreshing open recounting of the marital challenges, real and rumored, faced by the Roosevelts.The scandals are not ignored, downplayed or obviated.The conditions that propelled him into office are detailed.The Nation was ready for a change.FDR’s fearlessness comes through in the details of the library.It was a mandate.This became his mantra.Wealth, privilege and every advantage.High expectations.Eleanor is candid about her fears.Eleanor was one of Teddy Roosevelt’s favorite nieces. FDR was a second cousin. They really did keep it all in the family.He proved to be brave, determined, and indefatigable.His political clout and approach was powerful and action centered.WWII took over his presidency and the nation.His lack of action on the Jewish immigration was reviewed as well.His actual study is in the library.Study.StudyHe convincingly won every time.I asked pretty woman to provide scale for the height of the podium, to accommodate him in a chair.The museum is mostly static with very few screens. Photographs and explanatory displays.
Norman Rockwell works.
His car.
Died at age 63. His cousin Teddy died at 61.
The 4:00 PM tour started right on time and was led by a really funny Park Ranger named Mike. He pointed out the rose garden, the place where FDR and Eleanor were buried, and the home. He told stories of how FDR’s mother didn’t want any modification to the home, FDR was just as stubborn as his mother but about his polio. So, even though he could not walk and slept on the second floor, he would hoist himself in his wheelchair up to the second floor every day by rope in a little converted dumbwaiter. He would also give everyone the impression that he was a fully able and fully functional man. The home was actually his mother’s but he wanted it given to the United States people. She agreed and when she died it was donated to the parks, except Eleanor and the kids had lifetime use. They didn’t want it and signed it away not long after FDR’s death.
His childhood and adult home.We wondered who lived there, the Park Ranger told us it was the stables.
Inside was lovely, but I must say it does not look all that comfortable. It its day it was the best, today it is big and the treasures seem to be mostly the family photos and mementos.Dining room.
The good days.This is the room from which the senior Mrs. Roosevelt issued the day’s instructions to the servants. She held the money, inheriting 12 million from her father and 2 million from her husband.
His secret transport to the second floor, which he managed by himself. He had tremendous upper body strength and needed it to create the illusion of walking and standing.The beds always look uncomfortable to me.Winston’s room. Park ranger told me he still smells cigars in there.
FDR’s room.His bed.The blinds give the place a depressed feeling. They are park service blinds for preservation purposes.Eleanor’s room right next door. She had a separate house called, “Valkill.” It was a curious marriage.Looking into FDR’s room from Eleanor’s.
Grumpy reading a placard.As president, FDR would list his occupation as “Tree Planter.” He planted thousands of trees on the property. He dearly loved his view of the Hudson.The view that is left from his beloved view point. At the bench you can’t see the river at all. The view that is left after he planted so many trees has robbed the view entirely. I think if he had lived he would have cut them down to save the view.Our house selfie.Their burial plot.Eleanor’s first name was Anna. Did not see that anywhere but here.
He pushed his four freedoms for the world.
We were getting pretty hangry by this time so we headed the few miles down the road to the Culinary Institute of America for dinner. We got there, parked and went inside to the place we wanted to eat and discovered it had just closed at 5:00 PM, so we settled on eating at “The Tavern.”
Can’t miss the place. It is huge and well signed.Former Jesuit Seminary. Little Italian restaurant on the right.You have to be really careful at the crosswalks.Nice parking garage.Fun. Perhaps speaks to male dominance in the field.Very beautiful.It is at its heart an art school.Some nice art outside the window.We caught the sweet spot between lunch and dinner. In high season it is always crowded and a 45 minute wait for a place at the bar.
The menu was limited but everything sounded so good. We got some homemade potato chips with grilled brussel sprouts and goat cheese. Doesn’t sound that great but it was pretty spectacular. I think just the brussel sprouts would have been good by themselves.
Hanna helping Edie pick a wine, she gave her three to taste and was more than willing to bring more. She could have had her fill on just the tastes.Homemade potato chips, fried brussel sprouts and goat cheese. So delicious!!!
We also split a combination raw, grilled and fried vegetable platter appetizer with four wonderful and colorful sauces spooned onto the platter, and then a chicken romaine delicious salad. So yummy and the presentation was beautiful.
Raw, grilled and some fried vegetables with four wonderful sauces.The chicken was so flavorful and just melted in our mouths. Crisp and cold and tasty was the rest of the salad.
Also, the people working there (working towards their degrees) were so sweet and spent time talking to us and explaining about the campus, the restaurant, and their studies. Loved it. I had a hard time deciding which dessert I “had to” get, but decided on a piece of molten chocolate cake with passion fruit ice cream. Ammmmmaazzzzzzzing! Michael and I justified the expense by saying it was our anniversary dinner (as tomorrow is our 28th anniversary).
Molten Lava Cake with passion fruit ice cream. Oh good grief!
We waddled back to the car and drove around the campus a little bit before heading back to our home for the night (Super 8).
Corporate sponsors.Big bridges across the Hudson as we headed back to our room after a big day..
