There’s something special about walking in the footsteps of history, especially when you unexpectedly have the place almost to yourself. I arrived at Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York, around 3 p.m. and there was only one other car in the parking lot.

The site preserves Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s beloved retreat and home. It was also her “laboratory” for social change during one of the most influential periods of her life, from 1924 until her death in 1962. It’s the only National Historic Site dedicated to a single First Lady and offers a fascinating window into both her public and private life.

A Quiet Afternoon at Val-Kill

As I started across the bridge over the pond, I spotted a great blue heron standing along the water’s edge. It was a fitting welcome to a place Eleanor Roosevelt treasured for its tranquility.

Val-Kill was where she entertained family, friends, members of the press, associates and visiting dignitaries in a much more relaxed setting than nearby Springwood, the Roosevelt family home.

The property includes Stone Cottage, the smaller cottage near the pond, and the much larger Val-Kill Cottage. Calling Val-Kill a “cottage” is a bit deceiving. It feels much more like a large country house.

I was there on a day when the visitor center and cottage tours were closed, but you can still enjoy the grounds. I wandered around the cottages, stopped by the lovely garden filled with colorful flowers and eventually settled into one of the Adirondack chairs overlooking the pond.

Sitting there enjoying the same peaceful view Eleanor Roosevelt loved was my favorite moment of the visit.

Hiking Eleanor’s Walk

There are two trails you can hike. One leads about a mile to Top Cottage, FDR’s private retreat. I opted for Eleanor’s Walk, an easy one-mile loop through the property.

The short hike is a wonderful way to slow down and experience Val-Kill beyond its historic buildings. With the pond, woods and quiet setting, it’s easy to understand why Eleanor Roosevelt found such solace here.

If you’re visiting the Roosevelt sites in Hyde Park, carve out a little extra time for Eleanor’s Walk rather than simply touring the cottage and leaving. It gives you a different sense of the woman who lived, worked and welcomed the world here.

Know Before You Go

The grounds of Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site are open daily, but the buildings are only open Wednesday through Sunday. Guided tours of Val-Kill Cottage begin at 9:30 a.m. and last about 30 minutes.

Even when the buildings are closed, Val-Kill is worth experiencing for its peaceful grounds and trails. Sometimes sitting in an Adirondack chair beside a pond where history happened is reason enough to go when others don’t.

You can easily combine this visit with stops at Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site and Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site since all three sites are in Hyde Park. To see inside the buildings at those two site, you must go on a guided tour. I visited these three, plus 3 more in a day on a road trip in the Hudson Valley. If you’re in Canton, Ohio, don’t miss the First Ladies National Historic Site.