The NYC neighborhood of Washington Heights hosts the oldest standing house in the borough of Manhattan – The Morris-Jumel Mansion. Built in 1765, this mansion served as a headquarters during the American Revolution and is currently marked as a National Historic Landmark. Since being turned into a museum for the public, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is an integral part of the neighborhood that should be on anybody’s bucket list.
The History
In 1765, Roger Morris, a British Military Officer, built the mansion for himself and his wife, Mary Philipse Morris. The couple lived in the house for ten years until the start of the American Revolution. Roger was a British captain during the French war, so when the American Revolution began, he moved back to England to remain loyal to his native country. His wife moved to her family’s estate in Yonkers.
With the house now vacant, General George Washington sought to use it as a temporary headquarters once his original spot in Brooklyn Heights was taken during the Battle of Long Island. Washington decided to claim the house not only based on location but also because his love interest, Mary Philipse, used to live there.
The mansion was later bought by Stephen Jumel, a French merchant, who immigrated to the United States with his wife and former mistress, Eliza Bowen Jumel.
Architecture
The architecture of the Morris-Jumel Mansion is described as Georgian Palladian and was originally built to be a summer villa. The home features a deep octagonal drawing room, a pillared porch, and an exterior that was built with English brick.
Why go there?
The Morris-Jumel Mansion is currently the oldest remaining house in Manhattan and has been turned into a museum, which celebrates outstanding New York history, culture, and art. Even the surrounding neighborhood, known as the Jumel Terrace Historic District, is significant. The buildings in this district are protected under the New York Landmarks Commission and must continually be maintained as when they were built. A stroll through this neighborhood will make your feel as if you are walking through the 1800s.
Inside the museum, the mansion showcases furniture and artifacts that were owned by some of the most inspiring figures of history, like Napoleon. The museum also hosts historical exhibitions and concerts.
