The Roosevelt family is one of the most storied names in American history. Their lineage includes two presidents, numerous other political figures, socialites, and a First Lady. The Roosevelts hail from New York, and one of the family’s most famous members, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was born in Hyde Park in 1882. Despite his Empire State heritage, he was also quite closely associated with Georgia thanks to how much time he spent here. In fact, his residence here was known as the Little White House. FDR is so closely tied to the history of Warm Springs, Georgia, that it’s rare to hear the little town’s name without a reference to the president. These are the most famous mineral springs in Georgia thanks to their association with one of the most well-known names in American history.
Today, the city of Warm Springs has a population of under 450 residents. When first settled, it was known as Bullochville.
Saverivers/Wikimedia Commons
The city is home to mineral springs that remain a constant year-round temperature of around 90 °F. During Georgia’s Yellow Fever epidemic of the 1800s, wealthy citizens of Savannah would vacation in the spa town to avoid the illness.
FDR Presidential Library & Museum/Wikimedia Commons
The city’s most famous visitor was Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1921, he was diagnosed with polio and began visiting the mineral springs in Georgia shortly thereafter in an effort to regain mobility in his legs.
Alden Jewell/Flickr
The area was still called Bentonville then, and it was actually Roosevelt who changed the town’s name to Warm Springs. He was an avid visitor to the springs for many years, up until his death.
FDR Presidential Library & Museum/Wikimedia Commons
Roosevelt’s cottage in Warm Springs was nicknamed the Little White House, and he passed away there in 1945. The home has now been converted into a museum that’s set up exactly as it looked at the time of Roosevelt’s death.
Boston Public Library/Flickr
The mineral springs in the area are no longer available for public use, though they are used by the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation hospital for rehabilitation purposes.
David Brossard/Flickr
For more information about Roosevelt’s Little White House Historic Site, check out the National Parks Service website.
The Roosevelt family is one of the most storied names in American history. Their lineage includes two presidents, numerous other political figures, socialites, and a First Lady. The Roosevelts hail from New York, and one of the family’s most famous members, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was born in Hyde Park in 1882. Despite his Empire State heritage, he was also quite closely associated with Georgia thanks to how much time he spent here. In fact, his residence here was known as the Little White House. FDR is so closely tied to the history of Warm Springs, Georgia, that it’s rare to hear the little town’s name without a reference to the president. These are the most famous mineral springs in Georgia thanks to their association with one of the most well-known names in American history.
Saverivers/Wikimedia Commons
FDR Presidential Library & Museum/Wikimedia Commons
Alden Jewell/Flickr
Boston Public Library/Flickr
David Brossard/Flickr
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Address: Warm Springs, GA 31830, USA
