Step Back 260 Years At New York City’s Morris-Jumel Mansion
Located in Washington Heights stands Manhattan’s oldest surviving house, the magnificent Morris-Jumel Mansion.
Built in 1765, this architectural treasure has witnessed the American Revolution, hosted George Washington, and survived centuries of urban development.
Today, visitors can explore its elegant rooms and lush gardens for a remarkable journey through New York’s colonial past.
1. Revolutionary War Headquarters
General Washington commandeered this hilltop mansion during the Battle of Harlem Heights in 1776. Military maps sprawled across dining tables while officers planned strategies in rooms we can still visit today.
After British forces captured New York, the house became headquarters for Hessian commanders and later British officers. Walking through these halls means literally stepping where American history was made.
2. Elegant Georgian Architecture
Marvel at the mansion’s perfect symmetry and grand proportions! Built as a summer villa, its design showcases Georgian elegance with Palladian windows and a temple-like portico.
Sunlight floods the famous octagonal room through tall windows, illuminating original woodwork and period furnishings. Architectural enthusiasts appreciate how the mansion blends practical colonial design with refined European influences that wealthy colonists favored.
3. Scandalous Past Residents
Whispers of scandal echo through these historic rooms! After the Revolution, French merchant Stephen Jumel purchased the property for his wife Eliza, a former prostitute who rose to become one of New York’s wealthiest women.
Following Stephen’s suspicious death, Eliza married former Vice President Aaron Burr in the mansion’s parlor. Their tumultuous marriage lasted just one year before she filed for divorce, adding another dramatic chapter to the house’s colorful history.
4. Haunted Heritage
Ghost hunters flock to this mansion where paranormal activity reportedly abounds! Staff and visitors have witnessed apparitions of Eliza Jumel wandering the halls in a purple dress, while others report seeing a Revolutionary soldier in the attic.
Unexplained footsteps, cold spots, and moving objects have been documented for decades. Join a ghost tour to hear spine-tingling stories about why some former residents apparently never left this historic property.
5. Museum and Cultural Center
History lives on as modern visitors explore rooms filled with 18th and 19th century treasures! The mansion operates as a dynamic museum offering educational programs, concerts, and art exhibitions that connect colonial history to contemporary culture.
Wander through the beautiful gardens surrounding the property, providing a peaceful oasis amid bustling Manhattan. School groups, history buffs, and curious tourists alike discover new perspectives on American history through this remarkably preserved time capsule.
