There’s been a Mayor of New York City since the 1600s but it wasn’t until 1942 when Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia and his family moved into Gracie Mansion that New York City had its very own ‘Little White House’ and the building became the official residence of the Mayor of the City of New York.
I visited Gracie Mansion and am sharing a bit of the home’s history and tips for your visit, including how to reserve your free tour and what to expect.
Contents
- Gracie Mansion History
- Where is Gracie Mansion?
- How do you visit Gracie Mansion?
- What to See in Gracie Mansion
- Tips for Visiting Gracie Mansion
Gracie Mansion History
Let’s back up a few hundred years before Mayor La Guardia’s time.
Gracie Mansion was built in 1799 by a Scottish born merchant, Archibald Gracie on the site of a revolutionary fort. Due to the War of 1812, Gracie fell into financial hardship and by 1823 had sold the house to Joseph Foulke. It was later owned by Noah Wheaton in 1857 and then to the City of New York, when taxes on the home weren’t paid.
From that time until 1942, the house served as restrooms for the park and from 1923 to 1932, it was The Museum of the City of New York (which today is located on the Museum Mile.) Mayor LaGuardia reluctantly moved into Gracie Mansion for security purposes when the US entered World War II in 1942. And since then its been the official residence of the Mayor of New York City and a part of New York’s Historic House Trust and National Register of Historic Places.
Today, Gracie Mansion is managed by The Gracie Mansion Conservancy, which works to preserve the home’s history, puts together exhibitions and even hosts the Gracie Mansion book club.
What I love about Gracie Mansion is that it’s clearly in use. It’s not a building just to look at. When I visited there was coffee and tea still out from a previous gathering. Our guide mentioned that she has given tours while the Mayor was holding meetings in the dining room (which you can see on the tour) and I noticed in that dining room there are phones for conference calls.
Where is Gracie Mansion?
The address of Gracie Mansion is E 88th St &, East End Ave, New York, NY 10028.
It’s located inside Carl Schurz Park in the Yorkville neighborhood on the upper east of Manhattan and overlooking the East River.
Carl Schurz Park runs from 84th to 90th St and the entrance for tour guests to visit Gracie Mansion is at 88th St.
How do you visit Gracie Mansion?
Gracie Mansion is free to visit. However, you must visit at a time that you reserve which is either at 10 AM, 11 AM or 5 PM on select Mondays. Check their website to find out available dates and times and make a reservation in advance as space is limited.
The group of about 14 people is led by a very informative volunteer docent.
What to See in Gracie Mansion
Federal Period Architecture
When describing Gracie Mansion, your guide may talk a lot about the Federal Period. This was the era in the early days of the United States of America, when the US had recently declared independence from Britain. Gracie Mansion is a perfect example of federal style architecture.
This style is defined by symmetry. And you’ll also see furniture and decor from that period, including lots of convex mirrors with gold rims and topped with a bald eagle (the National Emblem of the United States) in almost every room that’s open to visitors in Gracie Mansion.
Yearly Exhibitions
Gracie Mansion puts together exhibitions relating to New York City and the house. At the time of my visit, it was the last day to see She Persists: A Century of Women displaying artwork from female artists from 1919 to 2019. This almost yearly change of exhibitions means your first visit may not be the same as your second as different themes and items may be on display.
Alexander Hamilton History
There’s a part of Alexander Hamilton’s (of whom the hit Hamilton musical is based off of) history at Gracie Mansion too! Pay attention to the fireplace in the ballroom, which is the room where the tour begins. It’s in front of this fireplace that Alexander Hamilton spent his final moments at, after his historic duel with Aaron Burr. The mantle was brought to Gracie Mansion in 1966.
And Much More…
Take a tour, see Gracie Mansion for yourself and ask a knowledgeable guide any questions you may have.
Tips for Visiting Gracie Mansion
- You must make a reservation online to visit Gracie Mansion. Choose from three times: 10 AM, 11 AM or 5 PM on select Mondays.
- The tour lasts around one hour.
- You can make a reservation for up to two people (you and a companion.)
- You will not receive a confirmation email immediately after making a reservation. I didn’t receive a confirmation email right after submitting my details. However, the evening before my tour day, I received an email with confirmation from the tour coordinator.
- Arrive on time! If you’re 10 minutes late, you will need to wait for the next tour, if there is one.
- The meeting point is at the 88th St and East End Ave entrance of Carl Schurz Park. It’s easy to find the meeting point as there’s several NYPD officers around there. You can always ask them if you’re lost.
- Bring a government issued photo ID. They will check and cross your name off a list before you enter Gracie Mansion.
- Be prepared for a security check. It’s not as thorough as airport security but you’ll have to put your bag through a scanner and walk through a full-body scanner.
- Food and beverage is not allowed (However, I had a water bottle and a bag of walnuts in my bag and went through security without any issues. I just didn’t drink or eat it while inside.)
- There are no bathroom facilities inside but there is a public restroom in the park a few steps away from the meeting point.
