Franklin D. Roosevelt

Then-Governor Franklin Roosevelt having a cup of tea, served by a Colonial-costumed Daughter of the American Revolution while FDR is seated in the "Period House" during his 1929 visit to Saratoga Battlefield.

SARA-22346

“A National Shrine”

What inspires you?

Most of us could readily name a few inspirations in our own lives. Often, those inspirations are shown by what we are willing to spend time on and share with others.

Based on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s efforts to preserve Saratoga Battlefield—from gubernatorially supporting New York State’s purchasing the site to presidentially encouraging its designation as a national military park— and his visits to the Battlefield, one could rightly assume the place was very special, even inspirational, to him.

Who knows when that interest started? Answering may be mere speculation. His interest did manifest several ways, including two documented visits to Saratoga Battlefield.

 

FDR studying architectural drawings for the planned visitor center at Saratoga National Historical Park during his 1940 visit to the site.

Saratoga NHP Archives

As Governor of New York, FDR visited Saratoga Battlefield on October 17, 1929. Appearing on stage with the site’s superintendent, George Slingerland, FDR spoke clearly of his belief that “the Federal Government should make this battlefield a national shrine.”

As President of the U.S., he visited on October 7, 1940. Two years prior, the site had been designated a National Historical Park, basically at his direction. His purpose in 1940, or one of them, was to select formally what would become the site for a new Visitor Center…the site where the Visitor Center stands today.

How might you help preserve history?