Landscape Preservation is alive and well at the three Roosevelt and Vanderbilt National Historic Sites in Hyde Park. Living landscapes constantly evolve and change with age.
The National Park Service preserves the landscapes of the Vanderbilt Mansion, the Homes of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Roosevelt’s neighbors at Bellefield Mansion to tell the story of a significant period in history for visitors to these homes.
This season, there will be a number of active landscape rehabilitation projects throughout the gardens in Hyde Park that visitors can witness firsthand.
The Gravesite at the Home of FDR is getting a major renewal to restore the crisp, neat character of Sara Delano Roosevelt’s rose garden. The entire area will be graded to correct drainage problems and restore the level appearance of the garden. New metal edging will be restored to paths and garden beds. Divisions of historic peonies will be replanted in the garden following the renovation. New sod will be installed in early summer, and new rose plants of historic varieties will be planted next spring.
Next door to the Roosevelt home, The Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield will begin work that addresses the rejuvenation of flower borders and gravel paths. The condition of the beautiful stone walls and hemlock hedges that enclose the garden will be assessed. The vines on the walls and buildings will be replaced.
The Vanderbilt formal gardens will have pathways improved between the mansion and the formal gardens. With years of use, the historic strolling paths have begun to disappear. Rebuilding and widening the paths will restore the Gilded Age experience of walking the grounds for pleasure.
In every case, these projects are designed to restore the character of the landscape that has shifted enough from the period of interpretation to require a re-set.
In the arc of time, plantings cycle through their natural lives in a single year, a decade or two, or even over a century or more. As trees grow, historic gardens may go from sunny to shady to sunny again. Unlike a home landscape that adapts to shifts in occupants, uses and site conditions, the historic landscape has a “period of significance” that is supposed to be preserved to reflect the culture of that time. To accomplish the goal of preserving the historic landscape, there is a periodic renewal of elements using historic plant materials, structures and maintenance techniques.
When these projects are undertaken, the National Park Service considers more than just the preservation of the historic character. For example, the use of a slightly different gravel will allow access for wheelchairs and strollers. Invisible elements (irrigation to conserve water, metal edging to reduce wear and tear by maintenance, and underground pipes to correct a drainage problem) will build in resilience and improve sustainability without compromising historic character. Incorporating these improvements sets the stage for success for the next 75 years. All images courtesy of the National Park Service.
The gardens and landscapes at these three National Parks are all maintained with volunteer support. Anyone interested in caring for historic gardens, learning new skills and sharing the history of these beautiful places with visitors is welcome to join the effort. To find out more about volunteering, click here, or enquire by email at NER_ROVA_Volunteers@nps.gov.
A version of this article originally appeared in the Creative Living section of Northern/Southern Dutchess News—“Rehabilitation Projects Planned for Historic Sites in Hyde Park.” Southern Dutchess News, 18 Mar. 2026. Click here to view the PDF.
