Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Campobello Island
Campobello Island
Franklin D. Roosevelt spent his childhood summers running, playing, bicycling, picnicking and swimming on the 2,800 acres of Campobello Island, a seaside resort for wealthy Victorian families, and he and Eleanor continued the tradition from 1909 until 1921—the year President Roosevelt contracted polio. He returned three more times during his presidency.
The island, accessible by bridge from Lubec, Maine, was opened as Roosevelt-Campobello International Park in 1964 for its historic significance and as a symbol of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada. Today, visitors can explore the Roosevelt’s “Red Cottage” during the summer or visit year round for the hiking trails, beaches, bogs and lighthouses that call the island home. Road Scholar participants get exclusive access to lodge on the island in historic summer cottages as they learn about Franklin and Eleanor.