Take Amtrak to These Presidential Homes

Many United States presidents have called New York home. Luckily, those homes (and one tomb) have been preserved, allowing us to visit them and get a peek into the lives of the nation's past leaders. In celebration of the upcoming President's Week, here are a few of the presidential homes you can visit in New York. All of them are easily accessed by Amtrak, allowing you to travel comfortably to some great destinations.

Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site - This National Historic Site hosts the FDR's home, the Presidential Library and Museum. The property sits on the Hudson River and is nestled in historic Hyde Park, New York. A day spent at the home of FDR will allow you to explore the home where FDR gave some of his famous "fireside chats" in the 1930s and 1940s. President Roosevelt specifically had the home preserved after his death and turned into a National Historic Site. You can roam around the grounds for free, but you'll need a tour guide to enter the home. The site is about 5 miles from Poughkeepsie Train Station, reachable by taxi or "Roosevelt Ride" shuttle service (seasonal).

Photo by John Williams on Flickr

Val-Kill National Historic Site - Val-Kill is the only National Historic Site dedicated to a first lady; this home is about 2 miles from the FDR home and was the cottage that Eleanor escaped to for relaxation and where she and a few friends started Val-Kill Industries. Just a short drive from the main home, Val-Kill is secluded, small and surrounded by natural beauty, which Mrs. Roosevelt felt comfortable in. Val-Kill is 6.5 miles from Poughkeepsie Train Station.

Teddy Roosevelt National Birthplace - Visit the reconstructed childhood home of the only president born and raised in New York City. President Roosevelt grew up in a town home in the Gramercy Park area, making it an easy destination from New York City's Penn Station. When visiting, you can view 5 restored rooms as well as artifacts and personal items; one fun exhibit includes a collection of political cartoons. The home is open Tuesday through Saturday and admission is free.

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site - Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay on Long Island, was the home of President Teddy Roosevelt until his death in 1916. Unfortunately, the home is undergoing some restoration and will not be open until July 2015. Visitors can still tour the grounds, the Museum and Visitor Center. Sagamore Hill is 3.2 miles from Oyster Bay Train Station on the Long Island Rail Road. Visitors can easily connect to the LIRR from Amtrak at Penn Station.

Photo by Mike Steele on Flickr

General Grant National Memorial - While not a presidential home, Grant's Tomb is a memorial to the Union's commanding general who brought the Civil War to a close, and became a very successful American president. Upon their deaths, he and his wife were buried in the largest mausoleum on the continent, located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The mausoleum also contains exhibits about the president and a Visitor's Center, where you can frequently hear talks about the man on the $50 bill. The tomb is easily accessed by Subway from New York City's Penn Station. 

This President's Week, visit some of America's richest history right in New York. These homes and Grant's Tomb are an interactive and exciting way to learn about history and get a peek into the lives of some of the United States' greatest leaders. If you're looking for another reason to go, Amtrak is offering 15% off select service routes in New York with 5-day advance booking. While traveling on a comfortable Amtrak train, you can sit back, relax and spend some time reading up on the president whose home you'll be visiting. For more information on destinations and travel ideas, visit New York By Rail.