Interpreting Disability Through Architecture

At historic house museums, preservationists are responsible for continuously updating the site’s interpretation in order to offer visitors information that will enhance their enjoyment and understanding of the site. In the case of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Hyde Park estate, a site that has been open to the public for nearly seventy years, the interpretation has always centered around a broad history of the man who lived there; to date, very little attention has been paid to the architecture of the estate. As Roosevelt himself had a strong avocation for architecture and went so far as to use his interest in order to design wheelchair-­‐accessible structures for himself on the site, the lack of discussion regarding the estates buildings is a missed opportunity. This thesis will examine the current interpretational techniques used at the site, analyze the importance of architecture to Roosevelt’s private and public life, and offer ways in which FDR’s designs and disability can be best interpreted through the site’s buildings.