Warm Springs, GA and the Little White House

We made plans to get together with Tom’s cousins on Saturday, meeting up with them at the Little White House in Warm Springs, GA.

 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to Warm Springs, GA seeking a cure for polio, which he had been stricken with a few years earlier.  The warm spring water did not cure the disease, but it did provide relief and improvement for the paralysis it caused.

The Museum focused on the years that FDR spent in Warm Springs as President, and the effect that the rural farming community had on his policies, including many of the New Deal programs.

We wandered through the museum, which housed many artifacts, including canes that were given to FDR as gifts,

 

a couple of quilts,

and FDR’s specially-equipped car with hand controls.

 

The guys were so caught up in figuring out how these controls worked, they missed the announcement for the 12-minute movie, but the girls made it to the movie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After studying the rest of the displays in the museum, we made our way out to the courtyard, where there was a collection of rocks representing each state, along with the state’s flag.

    

I expected Michigan to be represented by the state stone, a petoskey stone, but it wasn’t.

 

From the display of state rocks, we made our way around the fountain, past the Sentry Posts for the Marines and the Secret Service, and to the walkway to the Little White House.

The flag that is flying is the one that was in place in 1945 on the day that he died, reflecting 48 states.

It was a pretty simple household, with a small Servants Quarters,

 

 

and a small Guest Cottage, which was used by various dignitaries and other world leaders.

Still small, but it was a little nicer than the Servants Quarters.

 

 

FDR spent much of his time at his home in Warm Springs, allowing him him to access the rejuvenating waters of the springs, but it was in this house that he died.

 

 

For a Presidential home, it was very small and humble, with just a few rooms.  We entered through the kitchen,

 

 

walked through the dining room,

and the living room, where he was sitting in his lounge chair, working on a the next day’s radio address and getting his portrait painted on the day he died.

He had a desk in his bedroom,

but apparently he preferred to work from the small desk in the living room where he had an ottoman to put his feet up while he worked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The portrait that was in progress on that day was never finished, and was presented to the Little White House by the author,

 

where it is on display along with the finished portrait.

 

Just around the corner from the Little White House is the Warm Springs Pool Complex.  The Historic Pools are no longer used, but there is a Warm Springs Therapeutic Foundation that utilizes the warm spring water for occupational therapy and physical therapy.

 

Our Little White House admission included the Historic Pool Complex.

 

We studied the displays that explained the history behind the treatment pools and FDR’s involvement.  He actually owned the complex, and came here frequently to soak in the pools and interact with the other polio patients.

We ventured outside and explored the empty pools.  There’s no water in the pools, but there is a small fountain of warm bubbling water . . . although with an air temperature of 98 degrees, the 88 degree water didn’t feel that warm!

 

I guess Bryce thinks he’s a lifeguard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the State Park, we went into the little town of Warm Springs to get an ice cream cone and look around the town.

We walked along the sidewalks, checking out the various gift shops and antique shops.

At the end of the street, we wandered into an alley that took us to an interesting area.

Caroline had to check out the phone booth!

She and Bryce both found rides to try out . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yeah, they’re a little big for these rides now!

It was an interesting little alley,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

that let to a courtyard,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and then to a biker bar!

 

 

With some of the characters around, it felt a lot like the backyard at Wall Drug in South Dakota!

 

We just kindof stumbled onto this area, and it was really interesting . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. . . fun, too!         

Warm Springs really is a friendly kind of place!