Hudson Valley History

Village of Rhinebeck

As I mentioned, I am in NY for the week. I really love this area, so I thought I'd share some history and pictures with you. The Hudson Valley is one of the most beautiful areas to visit. I was lucky enough to grow up here. My father was born and raised in Hyde Park. I also grew up here along with my 6 cousins. We all lived within miles of each other and went to all the same schools. If you are not familiar, Hyde Park is the home of President FDR and his wife Eleanor. Each had separate homes, FDR had Springwood and Eleanor enjoyed a much smaller cottage a , Val-Kil few miles away. Hyde Park is also the home to several other historic sites, including Vanderbilt Mansion. When I was in college, my parents moved to the neighboring town of Rhinebeck. Actually it is more of a village than a town. Anyway, Rhinebeck was founded by Dutch settlers in 1686, but it wasn't until German settlers entered the area that it got its name of "Rynbeck". It is also the home to many historic places, but probably the most recognizable is the Beekman Arms. This was the first Inn in American, founded in 1766. Important figures in American history have stayed and dined at the Inn, including George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and FDR. There are also several other mansions, including Wilderstein which belonged to the Suckley family. Daisey Suckley, the last resident of the mansion, was a close friend of FDR and gave him Fala, the famous White House dog.

At first I was upset when they decided to do this because I loved my childhood home and Hyde Park. In reality, living in the village of Rhinebeck has more benefits than living in the boonies in Hyde Park. The streets are beautiful to walk on and there is access to the most wonderful shops, restaurants and cafes. There is a great mix of old time shops and new trendy ones. We've enjoyed two beautiful days of weather and have been able to walk around taking pictures of the houses. There are such wonderful examples of different architectural designs, especially of the Victorian persuasion. Anyway, I could go on and on about the history and beautiful of this area, so let me just share my pictures with you. I hope you love them as much as I do, and if you get the chance, you should definitely visit the Hudson Valley.

Delmater Inn designed by A.J. Davis

Bed & Breakfast