jskinnell

Our Visit to Roosevelt Campobello International Park

We ended our time in the Canadian Maritimes and decided to spend a week at Seaview RV Resort near Eastport, Maine. With views like this from our campsite, we knew we could relax and recharge.

Campground featuring several recreational vehicles (RVs) parked near a lake with hills in the background and a clear blue sky.
A large white RV parked on a grassy area near a calm lake, with a pickup truck attached, under a clear blue sky.

We also knew we had to make one more trip across the border into Canada and visit a special place called Campobello Island. We were so glad we did!

NOTE: Don’t forget your passport as you will be crossing over into Canada at Lubec, Maine.

Roosevelt Campobello International Park

Roosevelt Campobello International Park is one of the only international parks in the world run by two countries. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor made this their summer home and it was eventually opened as an international park. And it is completely free to visit!

Along with their cottage, there are several other cottages open for guests to enjoy seeing how the wealthy spent their summers in the cooler climate.

Hubbard Cottage

A large white house with green trim and a steep roof, featuring multiple gables and a chimney, surrounded by green grass and trees, with a path leading up to the entrance; a person walking towards the house.
A historic two-story house with a steep roof, featuring white siding and green trim, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.

The Hubbard Cottage was designed by Boston insurance broker Gorham Hubbard and was built in 1892. This extravagant structure was designed with elegance and opulance in mind. From the fireplaces to the woodwork, no expense was spared. To the right of the main hall is the ladies parlour, while to the left is the gentlemen’s lounge complete with pool table.

The dining room features a large oval picture window with magnificant views of the water. This home was considered an example of “rusticator” living on Campobello Island.

Spacious living room with a grand piano, vintage furniture, a fireplace, and large windows offering natural light.
A cozy game room featuring a billiard table, a green tablecloth on a small table, and red upholstered seating. The room is decorated with colorful drapery and has a fireplace with a mirror above it.
A decorative fireplace set into a wooden alcove, featuring a mesh screen and a wooden mantel. A small vase with colorful flowers sits on top of the mantel, against a floral wallpaper background.
A cozy living room featuring a wooden fireplace mantel with a mirror above it, decorative plates, and figurines. Floral patterned armchairs and a round table with a small vase of red flowers are in the foreground.
Interior view of a staircase with ornate wooden railings and decorative floral wallpaper, featuring a chandelier overhead.
Bright dining room with two round tables covered in white tablecloths, wooden chairs, and a large oval window offering a scenic view of a lake and surrounding trees.

Wells-Shober House

A large, historic white house with a wraparound porch, set in a wooded area under a clear blue sky.

The Wells-Shober House was built in 1884 for Samuel Wells. He was a Boston-area lawyer and president of the Campobello Company which owned much of the island. In 1912 the Shober family of Philadelphia purchased the home.

Eleanor’s Tea

Today, this cottage is home to many daily programs. However, the most popular is “Eleanor’s Tea”. Eleanor Roosevelt loved having tea every afternoon at 3:00. She would invite many in the community to come, have a cup of tea and chit chat.

This program is so popular that there are now two sittings for Eleanor’s Tea–one at 11:00 which you get a ticket for at the visitor’s center, and one at 3:00 which you have to make a reservation for online. And as with entrance to the park, this is also free.

We were not sure what to expect, but this is a must-do! We were served hot tea and delicious gingersnap cookies while our guides told us all about Eleanor Roosevelt from the time she was small up until her death. We came away wanting to learn more about her amazing life.

A cozy dining area with wooden tables and chairs, set for a meal with white tablecloths, teapots, and cups. In the background, several guests are interacting, and a television displays a black-and-white image. The walls are painted yellow, and the room has a warm and inviting atmosphere.
A smiling man in a green plaid shirt sitting at a dining table with white tablecloth, surrounded by coffee cups and a red teapot in a bright restaurant setting.
A woman sitting at a table in a café, smiling while holding a red teapot lid. A cup of coffee and a plate of cookies are on the table, with other patrons visible in the background.

Roosevelt’s Cottage

A selfie of two people in front of a large red house with a green roof and white trim, set against a clear blue sky.

This 34-room “cottage” was gifted to Franklin and Eleanor for their wedding, and this was where one of their children was born. Yes, he was considered a Canadian citizen, but was “grandfathered” in to be a U.S. citizen!

The cottage has been well preserved, including all the original furnishings. It was interesting to see how this differed from the Hubbard cottage. It was more rustic and homey feeling.

While some of the lighting isn’t the greatest because of the sun shining through the windows, here is a slide show of many of the rooms.

  • A side room where the family would gather to play games.
  • The parlour
  • This is FDR’s hat and pipe. He would sit here, read the paper, and enjoy the views
  • He also enjoyed using this telescope to watch the ships and boats go up and down the river.
  • Through a donation from one of the Roosevelt descendants, they were able to get a complete table setting of the original china and glassware.
  • The laundry room
  • The kichen
  • One of two pantries. This one had an icebox.
  • One of six bathrooms. Where is the toilet?
  • Here is the toilet! This was the only bathroom with a separate room for the toilet.
  • Franklin and Eleanor’s bedroom. This was where he was diagnosed with polio and spent 6 weeks. After this room was never used again.
  • One of the bedrooms
  • The only girl’s room
  • Another bedroom
  • The school room
  • The nursery where the younger children slept.

They give guided tours of the cottage every 15 minutes starting at 10:15.

NOTE: When you are on the island, you are on Atlantic time, which is one hour AHEAD of Maine time! All times are Atlantic times, so make sure you plan accordingly so you don’t miss your tour!

Prince Cottage

A smiling couple seated at a table on a porch overlooking a lush green landscape with a lake in the background.

Built in 1900 for a cotton broker from St. Louis named Laurence Prince, Prince Cottage is now home to the Prince Cafe. We were fortunate to get a table on the verandah overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay with Eastport, Maine across the bay.

The indoor dining room was also getting full when we were there for lunch.

There were hiking and biking trails we could have explored, but we were not prepared for that. Also, it was hot! So we got in the truck and drove to our second location on the island.

Head Harbour Lightstation

The north end of the island is home to the Head Harbour Lightstation. Also known as East Quoddy Light, this lighthouse sits on a picturesque island. The only way to get there is by boat, or by walking across the sandbar when the tide is out.

Unfortunately, the tide was coming in when we got there and we were unable to walk across to explore. But it was an amazing sight from across the water.

Scenic coastal view featuring a lighthouse on a rocky shore, surrounded by trees and calm waters.
A coastal lighthouse painted in red and white, surrounded by greenery and rocky terrain, with a wooden staircase leading down the shore.

Conclusion

It was definitely worth the drive to get to this special place. We learned so much about the Roosevelt family and highly recommend you add this to your New England bucket list.

We’re Mike & Jennifer Skinnell, and together we are The Rambling Quilter. We travel the country full-time in our 42 ft. fifth-wheel pulled by our F-450. Jennifer writes our blog, travel articles, contemporary romance, cozy mysteries, and “Don’t Wait – Our Full-Time Journey Through Breast Cancer”. Our blog is purely for information and entertainment purposes. However, if you’d like to support Jennifer’s writing career, her author link to her books is below.

Jennifer’s Author Site

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