Lindenwald is a country estate on the Old Post Road between New York and the state capital Albany. The Hudson River Valley was still Dutch-speaking when Van Buren was born in a local tavern (fyi, ‘kill’ is Dutch for ‘waterway’). President Van Buren bought it in anticipation of not winning re-election, after a financial crisis and not backing Texas statehood after the Alamo. Van Buren was a political tactician who helped form the Democratic Party, managed Andrew Jackson’s campaign and became his Vice President. He expanded the franchise for white males by reducing the property ownership burden, but he restricted the franchise for black males by raising the property ownership burden. He also opposed women having any rights and continued Jackson’s cruel Native American relocation policies. The house tour was very educational, especially since I knew almost nothing about him, and I was pleased that the ranger described our 8th President’s faults without hesitation, unlike Andrew Johnson‘s ridiculous site.