Gracie Mansion

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GRACIE MANSION

In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named

Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a

bend in the East River, five miles north of the City.

Financial failure forced Gracie to sell his house to Joseph

Foulke in 1823, and in 1857, the house came into the

possession of Noah Wheaton. The City of New York

appropriated the estate in 1896, incorporating its 11 acres

of grounds into East River Park, renamed in 1910 for

Carl Schurz.

After decades of use as a concession stand and restrooms

for the park, Gracie Mansion was restored and became

the first home of the Museum of the City of New York.

When it moved to a larger building, Gracie Mansion

became a historic house museum run by the Parks

Department. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses

convinced City authorities to designate it as the official

residence of the Mayor, and in 1942, Fiorello H. La

Guardia moved in.

The house was enlarged in 1966 with the addition of the

Susan E.WagnerWing, which includes a grand ballroom

and two intimate reception rooms. The Gracie Mansion

Conservancy was established in 1981, and under its

guidance, the first major restoration of the house was

undertaken between 1981 and 1984.

In 2002, the interior and exterior were again restored, and

the house was transformed into the “People’s House” with

increased accessibility to the public and to City agencies.

Gracie Mansion is also used to accommodate visiting

officials and dignitaries, such as former guests First Lady

Rosalynn Carter and South African President Nelson

Mandela.

The Gracie Mansion Conservancy is a private not-forprofit

corporation established in 1981 to preserve,

maintain, and enhance Gracie Mansion—one of the

oldest surviving wood structures in Manhattan and a

member of the Historic House Trust. The Conservancy’s

mission is to raise funds to restore the historic structure

and acquire furnishings that illustrate the rich history of

New York; improve the surrounding landscape and

gardens; and provide educational services, including

publications and tours.

For more information on Gracie Mansion and other

historic house museums or to make a reservation for a

tour, please call 311.