Page 103 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

NE W Y ORK ST A TE  101

4 Hudson River
Valley
~ £ @ n 3 Neptune Rd,
Poughkeepsie. Tel (845) 463-4000.
∑ dutchesstourism.com
From its source high in the
Adirondack Mountains, the
Hudson courses past bustling
riverport towns and the dramatic
Catskill and Taconic mountain
ranges for nearly 315 miles
(507 km) to its mouth at New
York harbor. Strikingly beautiful
and strategically located, the
valley has played a pivotal role
in North American military, The imposing exterior of the lavishly furnished Vanderbilt Mansion
economic, and cultural history.
Settled by the Dutch in the United States Military his 1933–45 term. The house is
1620s (see p53), it was soon Academy at West Point. now part of the Home of
dotted with trading posts that Esta blished in 1802, the academy Franklin D. Roosevelt National
grew up around the thriving fur has trained the nation’s leading Historic Site, which also includes
trade with local Iroquois tribes. military officers, including an extensive museum and
The area’s Dutch heritage opposing Civil War generals library detailing Roosevelt’s
survives in names of places such Ulysses S. Grant and Robert leadership during the
as Catskill, Kinderhook, and E. Lee, and World War II Great Depression and
Claverack, as well as in the early commanders Douglas World War II. Both FDR
19th-century fictional writings MacArthur and Dwight D. and Eleanor are buried
of Washington Irving (1783– Eisenhower. The West here. The nearby Eleanor
1859), whose tales of Rip Van Point Museum provides a Roosevelt National
Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy comprehensive intro- Historic Site preserves
Hollow made him America’s duction to a tour of the Val-Kill, the First Lady’s
first internationally recognized fortress-like grounds. weekend and holiday
author. Irving’s modest but In the 19th century, Statue of George cottage retreat.
whimsically eclectic Hudson many of New York’s Washington at the US
River home, Sunnyside, is now emerging elite Military Academy P Sunnyside
a tourist attraction. constructed seasonal 3 W Sunnyside Lane, off
The Hudson’s economic and retreats along the Hudson. The Rte 9, Irvington. Tel (914) 631-8200.
transportation advantages also largest of these is the Vanderbilt Open May–mid-Nov: for timed tours
made it a key strategic objective Mansion in Hyde Park. Completed only at 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am,
of both British and American in 1899, this Beaux-Arts-style 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2pm,
forces during the Revolutionary palace was built by the 3pm & 3:30pm Wed–Sun. & 7
∑ hudsonvalley.org
War, resulting in many pitched architecture firm of McKim,
battles. Fort Putnam, one of the Mead & White, for railroad baron P US Military Academy
forts built along the river in Frederick W. Vanderbilt. The West Point Hwy (Thayer Rd),
1778 to defend the colonies magnificent home offers a West Point. Tel (845) 938-2638.
from British attacks, has been spectacular view of the river, and Open Museum: 10:30am–4:15pm
restored and is now part of the is laden with French furniture, art, daily; check website for tour timings
tapestries, housewares, (www.westpointtours.com); photo
and architectural IDs required, passports required for
foreigners. & for tours only.
details taken from a Closed Jan 1, Thanksg., Dec 25. 7
Parisian château once ∑ usma.edu
occupied by Napoleon.
An older and less P Vanderbilt Mansion
ostentatious mansion 119 Vanderbilt Park Rd, Hyde Park.
is Springwood, the Tel (845) 229-7770. Open check web-
home of Franklin D. site for hours. & ∑ nps.gov/vama
Roosevelt (FDR), E Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt
America’s 32nd National Historic Site
president (see p59). 4097 Albany Post Rd, Rte 9, Hyde Park.
Roosevelt was born Tel (845) 229-5320. Open 9am–5pm
here in 1882, and it daily. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving,
was used as a summer Dec 25. & grounds free. 7 8
Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s home White House during - ∑ nps.gov/hofr

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