What to do between MD and VT?

We left very early on Monday am so we could do some site seeing along the way. First, I planned a trip to the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park, NY. We toured the visitor center, the Library and Springwood- the very nice Roosevelt family home.

The long winding driveway is significant because this is the path Roosevelt would force himself to "walk" everyday as he tried to recover from Polio. He tried every doctor, therapy and medication, but he was never able to recover any use of his legs. He would walk this driveway using a combination of rigid, heavy steel leg braces, canes and his son's help. He finally compensated enough to fake a short walk and to brace himself upright to give speaches at podiums. Everyone knew he had contracted a very severe case of Polio, but most American's thought he had some use of his legs and only needed the chair and braces for help, but that was not the case.

The pictures above show the Hudson River view from Springwood. (the Hudson is now hidden from view by the treeline, but Springwood was a working farm and orchard back then so they would have seen the river.)

The back of the Springwood home.

FDR's modified car with long hand controls so he could drive himself.

The silver triangle modification that would dispense LIT CIGARETTES! Those were the days!