Ship Model Collection

President Roosevelt had a deep interest in the sea that dated back to his childhood, when he heard stories from his Delano relatives about the family's adventures in overseas trade. He spent a lifetime amassing a world-class collection of naval and maritime prints, drawings, manuscripts, rare books, and ship models.

A highlight of the Roosevelt Library when it opened in 1941 was the "Naval Room," where FDR showcased selections from his collection of over 400 ship models. Roosevelt purchased some of these. Others were gifts from friends and admirers. During his presidency many were displayed in the White House. This room houses just a portion of this large collection.

To learn more about the ship models in the Museum's Artifact Collection, you can visit our Digital Artifact Collection.