Franklin D. Roosevelt and his family spent happy summers at their 34-room “cottage” on Campobello Island.
Beautiful scenery and ample outdoor recreation opportunities drew the Roosevelt family to this
Canadian island more than a century ago.
By Josephine Matyas, F468364
May-June 2026
A one-of-a-kind place in the Bay of Fundy, just north of Maine, boasts a long and distinguished “legacy of friendship” between the United States and Canada. The small New Brunswick coastal island of Campobello is home to Roosevelt Campobello International Park, which is equally funded by both governments. You can get there from the U.S. side by crossing a short bridge from Lubec, Maine (suitable for larger RVs); from Canada, take a car ferry from Deer Island, New Brunswick (suitable for smaller RVs that can manage a steep loading ramp).
Roosevelt Campobello International Park is dedicated to preserving the Roosevelt family’s 10,000-square-foot summer “cottage” and surrounding land cherished by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor. It’s the only international park in the world that does not sit directly on a common border.
The “cottage”, which can be toured with a park interpreter, has furnishings and memorabilia that reflects its 1920s appearance.
In 1883, James and Sara Roosevelt, Franklin’s parents, purchased land on Campobello when he was 1 year old and finished the construction of a partially completed house on the property. The family spent many enjoyable summers on this small Canadian island.
In 1908, the owner of a neighboring cottage passed away, and Sara purchased the summer home for Franklin and Eleanor, who had a family of their own by then.
The 34-room Roosevelt cottage held warm memories for FDR, the longest-serving U.S. president, and his family. However, it was also where the future president received his polio diagnosis at age 39 — he never walked unassisted again and rarely visited the property afterward. It did remain a summertime home for Eleanor and their five children,
a special place for family getaways and relaxation.
Free guided tours of the Roosevelts’ cottage are offered every 15 minutes to visitors who wish to see how the Roosevelts lived while vacationing there. The home has been restored to the 1920s era, complete with original furnishings, kerosene lights, and artifacts, including FDR’s trademark hat and pipe. In the spacious living room, FDR would relax and work on his stamp collection, while Eleanor knitted or read.
A short film, archival photos, documents, and interpretive guides bring visitors up to speed on the Great Depression, FDR’s New Deal, the challenges of the era, and the deep commitment to civil and workers’ rights and social justice championed by Eleanor.
Nearby Herring Cove Provincial Park offers woodland camping.
In addition to the historic Roosevelt summer home, three other turn-of-the-century summer homes are open for self-guided tours on the island.
One is the historic Wells-Shober Cottage, part of the international park and a short walk from the main Roosevelt dwelling. It was built in the late 19th century for Samuel Wells, a Boston lawyer, and eventually acquired by the Shober family of Philadelphia.
The Wells-Shober Cottage hosts “Eleanor’s Tea” and other programs.
Twice a day at the cottage, visitors can take part in “Eleanor’s Tea” (free with a ticket from the visitor center). As park guests enjoy cups of New Brunswick-made King Cole tea and plates of cookies, docents entertain and inform them about the life, beliefs, and accomplishments of the remarkable first lady.
As a child, Eleanor immersed herself in books and the world of make believe. Her mother passed away when she was just 8 years old, and she was raised by her strict Victorian grandmother. While attending a finishing school in the United Kingdom, she learned about feminism and developed a strong sense of social responsibility, which she took into her adult life. Eleanor is remembered for her hands-on work with the Red Cross; her newspaper editorials; and her involvement with the League of Women Voters, where she championed anti-lynching campaigns, women’s right to vote, fair housing for people of color, and abolishing child labor in factories.
Prince Cottage serves lunch in its café and presents “FDR Happy Hour” each evening, complete with stories of FDR’s life and times.
The Prince Cottage was built in the late 19th century by Lawrence Prince, a cotton broker from St. Louis, Missouri. It is now home to the Prince Café, which serves light lunch and refreshments in the dining room and veranda. It’s also where the “FDR Happy Hour” takes place each night. When you arrive for the program, you’ll be greeted by live music and served your cocktail and personal charcuterie appetizer. Park interpreters then share insights into FDR’s life and achievements. An adult ticket costs $31.50 CDN (plus tax and processing fees) per person.
The Hubbard Cottage was constructed in 1891 by Gorham Hubbard, a wealthy real estate developer from Boston, and his wife, Helen, a con-cert pianist. The Hubbards spared no expense when building it, and it is the most finely appointed cottage at Campobello. The highlight of your tour will be looking through the 9-foot-by-6-foot oval picture
window that offers a magnificent, ever-changing view of Friars Bay.
Campobello Island has always been cherished as a place for folks to get away and connect with nature. The 2,800 acres of parkland are crisscrossed with hiking and cycling trails that run through spruce and hardwood forests, sphagnum bogs, fields, and along the seashore. Visitors savor spectacular views of the Grand Manan Island bluffs and vistas of Passamaquoddy Bay and the surrounding islands of the Bay of Fundy.
Should your travels take you to the Northeast, be sure to schedule a visit to Roosevelt Campobello International Park, where you’ll see why the Roosevelts and many other East Coast elites made this New Brunswick island their summer getaway.
CAMPING
Herring Cove Provincial Park
parcsnbparks.ca/en/parks/6/herring-cove-provincial-park
This park is a 2-mile drive from Roosevelt Campobello International Park. The campground has 88 campsites (40 with electrical hookups) in both wooded and open settings. Facilities include comfort stations with showers, a dump station, picnic tables, fire pits, playgrounds, and a nine-hole golf course with a pro shop.
MORE INFO
Roosevelt Campobello International Park
rooseveltcampobello.org
Admission to the park, including the Roosevelt Cottage, is free. U.S. citizens require a passport for entry. Note that Campobello Island is on Atlantic time, which is an hour earlier than Eastern time in Maine. The park and its programs are open from May through October; the grounds and natural area remain open year-round