Historic homes that have become famous museums has been a prime use of real estate over many years. They have preserved our history and culture so are of tremendous value. There are many such places in New York City, and here are just a few examples that you would enjoy viewing and exploring.
Morris-Jumel Mansion
Constructed in 1765 by a British loyalist, Roger Morris, it was known as Mount Morris. Amazingly, in the Revolutionary War, George Washington as well as Hessian and British forces were occupants in the house. Washington returned on July 10, 1790, and dined there along with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and others. The mansion and grounds were later purchased by Stephen and Eliza Jumel, by the City in 1903. In 1904 it was opened to the public as a museum.
Van Cortland House Museum
Located on the edge of the Van Cortland Park in what was then Yonkers, the Georgian fieldstone house was constructed in 1748. It is now the oldest building in the Bronx. This house is another used by George Washington during the Revolutionary War and was also used by the Marquis de Lafayette, Rochambeau. The house was converted into a museum in 1896 by the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York and has been open to the public ever since that time.
Mount Vernon Hotel Museum
Constructed as a carriage house in 1799, in 1826, it was converted into a hotel. The Colonial Dames of America bought the building in 1924 and converted it into a museum, which was known until 2000 as the Abigail Adams Smith Museum. The name was changed as President John Adams’ daughter, Abigail, had no connection with the structure.
Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
Built in 1812 in the then village of Fordham, it was typical of the area’s working-class homes. After Poe‘s death, the house where he had written a number of his works was sold. The New York Shakespeare Society saved the home from destruction in 1913 by raising funds to move it across the street. It is a part of the Historic House Trust
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
This is the only presidential birthplace opened to the public in New York City. Roosevelt was born on this site in 1858, and the house was demolished in 1916 to become a retail building. However, within weeks of his 1919 death, the Women’s Roosevelt Memorial Association bought the lot and the adjoining one and reconstructed the home to look like what had been the interior design in the years of 1865-1872. In 1963, it was donated to the National Park Service.
Many historic homes and their real estate that became museums give us a unique look into other time periods and make us happy to be able to admire the delightfully preserved establishments, which still exists.