The Little White House

My cousin Holly has spent the summer filling an internship at The Little White House in Warm Springs, GA. Saturday, we went to visit her there. This was Donnie's first time, and my first time in 18 years. We had a great time and learned a little too.

We went down there with Jaxon, Sydney, my grandmother, and niece Katelyn, and we met up with Holly, my aunt Kay, and her new daughter-in-law Amber. Holly gave us the grand tour and answered all of our crazy questions.

You enter the property through a museum of sorts. They have a timeline of FDR's life and then quite an extensive collection of things he used/had/what ever at the Little White House. There is a lot of information available about the president and his life - before and during office.

We watched a video about FDR and his affinity for the home in Warm Springs. When he was 39 he contracted polio after attending a boy scout camp, and remained paralyzed until his death. He had a car designed with hand controls so that he could drive around in GA, and they had the car on display. It was pretty neat.

FDR helped turn the resort town of Warm Springs into a rehabilitation center for children with disabilities. The natural springs ( and not so natural pools) helped the children and president move around and enjoy a little bit of freedom.

After seeing the activities he enjoyed in GA, and seeing him drive around town, a lot of people thought FDR could walk and would send him canes. The museum had quite the display of ornate, hand-carved canes intended for FDR.

They also had a display on FDR's fifth cousin - Teddy Roosevelt. His big stick was a little intimidating with all of the spikes.

When you leave the museum, you walk on the grounds, passing a "hall" of flags, and a fountain. The kids loved throwing pennies into the fountain. After they cleaned out aunt Kay, they hit grandma up for her loose change too.

Finally you make it to the Secret Service and Military Guard posts (unmanned now because their is not a president to protect). Passing through the gate you see the servants' house and guest house, and then the white house behind them. The white house isn't very big:

There is a small kitchen with a pantry (mostly filled with dishes now).

The dining room and den/study are attached. They still have all of the furniture in there

from the day FDR died.

FDR's secretary had a room with a private bathroom attached.

FDr's bedroom is just off the dining room. His bathroom links his room to Eleanor's - only she

didn't stay there very often.

There is a lot more to say, but it is late, I am tired, and I am already rambling, so...

After catching up on the history lesson we headed over to Kay's house for food and fishing (must be nice to live on a lake :-)).