FDR's Little White House- Warm Springs, Georgia

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Historical Marker

A Georgia Historical Marker which reads: Franklin D. Roosevelt came to Warm Springs in 1924 in hopes of recovering from the effects of Polio. His love for the area and hopes for the Georgia Warms Springs Foundation led to him to build a small white clapboard cottatge on these pine scented slopes. The house was completed in 1932 while FDR was serving as Governor of New York. During FDR's four elected terms as the 32nd President the cottage became known as The Little White House. It was designed by architect Henry Toombs who also designed many of the Foundation buildings. The cost was $8,738 including landscaping. The cottage, gargage, servants quarters and guest house are preserved much like they were on April 12, 1945 when FDR died of a massive stroke as he was sitting for a portrait. The unfinished portrait and many of FDR's personal belongings can be seen in the cottage and in an adjacent museum. During the busy years between 1932 and 1945 FDR only visited his beloved Little White House on 16 occasions while he and the nation struggled through the Great Depression of 1929 and then World War 2. Many of the solutions to the people problems that beset the nation during his presidency came to FDR as the result of his association with the people of this area.

The Main and Secondary Cottages

A view of the main cottage, alongside the servants quarters on the right and guest house on the left. Large trees block some of the view of the main cottage. The American flag is also seen in front of the main cottage The Guest house, a small white building with 1 door on the right and a window A view of the main cottage, without the other buildings visible An up-close view of the main cottage, featuring a front outdoor foyer with white benches, large windows with black shutters, and the main door

Interior of the Main Cottage

A replica of the unfinished portrait of FDR that sits within the living room of the main cottage The back porch of the main cottage, with a circular high up design that FDR thought of as resembling the deck of a ship. The view from the deck is of the forest surrounding the property. The bed in which FDR tragically passed away on after collapsing in the living room on April 12, 1945.

The Museum

A typical 1940s car in Navy Blue color. This car had to be custom modified so that the President could drive it using only his hands. A beige stagecoach with ornamental decoration throughout. Near the top the words WARM SPRINGS are painted. A 1940s roadster in beige of that is either the same or a similar model to the navy blue car from earlier. This was was also custom built for Roosevelt. A marble bust of Franklin D Roosevelt encased in a glass cube. The 48 star American flag that flew over the property on the day that Franklin D Roosevelt passed away. It is folded up in a triangle in the same style as used for veterans.