Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

Purposes

Built in 1925, Val-Kill served at various times as a:

  • Furniture shop training local farmers
  • The home of the First Lady after her husband died
  • Multi-purpose shop including pewter making and weaving
  • Picnic site for the Roosevelt family
  • Retreat for Eleanor Roosevelt and her friends

Main Building

The main building at Val-Kill was originally a furniture factory. 

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Franklin Roosevelt's Description

Franklin Roosevelt described Eleanor as wanting in Val-Kill "a shack on a stream in the back woods and want, instead of a beautiful marble bath, to have the stream dug out so as to form an old-fashioned swimming hole."

Additional Resources

"The greatest thing I have learned is how good it is to come home again." - Eleanor Roosevelt