Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Information Seasonal Changes to Visitor Services

Beginning November 1, 2026, Lindenwald, the Visitor Center, and park bookstore are closed for the season. Park grounds remain OPEN daily from 7 am to sunset. Guided house tours are anticipated to resume in late May or early June 2027. Visitors can continue exploring the park through the free NPS App, featuring the self-guided Wayside Loop – Martin Van Buren and Dogs of the NPS audio tours.

Overview

Born in Kinderhook, New York, in 1782, Martin Van Buren was the first president born a US citizen. His life spanned the American Revolution to the Civil War and was shaped by the most important issues of the era: US expansionism and the removal of Indigenous people, states’ rights, and slavery. This historic landscape invites reflection on the many lives and legacies woven into its past.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Compass and GPS
  • Geocaching
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Martin Van Buren National Historic Site: Park grounds are open year round from 7:00 am to sunset. Visitor facilities and guided tours of the president's home are available on a seasonal basis. Please check our Operating Hours & Seasons page for our current facility hours.

Getting there

The park entrance road is located off of route 9H about two miles south of Kinderhook Village. GPS Coordinates: 42° 22' 52'' N -73° 42' 13'' W

Visitor centers

Weather

The weather at Martin Van Buren National Historic Site is typical of the northeast United States; it varies considerably throughout the year. Always check the forecast prior to your visit and dress accordingly. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.

Phone: 5187641041

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Le paysage à chasses, a scenic wallpaper of a hunting scene that is hung in Van Buren's dining room
Le paysage à chasses - Zuber wallpaper · NPS Photo
The servants' dining room in the basement of Lindenwald. A round table fill the center of the room.
Servants' Dining Room · NPS Photo
A white marble bust of Martin Van Buren is centered between two windows and behind an oblong desk.
Hiram Powers bust of Martin Van Buren in the Library. · NPS Photo

Pair it with