Gracie Mansion
Five miles north of Midtown overlooking the East River’s fast moving swirling eddies, historic Gracie Mansion has gone through many lives first starting out as a country estate built in 1799 by Archibald Gracie, a prosperous New York merchant. It then became an ice-cream parlor, first home of the Museum of the City of New York, and most famously, a residence for some of New York’s mayors beginning with LaGuardia and ending with Giuliani. Situated on 11 acres that are now a part of Carl Schurz Park, this ornate yellow showpiece is now "The People’s House" open for tours by appointment on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. And thanks to an extensive 2002 renovation, it’s definitely work taking the 45-minute guided narration of this extensive time capsule lit with a staggering collection of chandeliers, whale-oil fixtures, and an early gasolier (gas lamp). First-floor reception rooms feature federalist architecture and 19th century décor while the spacious upstairs bedrooms overlook Hellgate, which surprisingly means "beautiful view" when translated from Dutch. Since faux finishes were common in early American design, imitation yet highly impressive marble covers the downstairs floors. The library’s tall double-paned windows slide into the walls providing access to a wide wraparound porch. Be on the lookout for panes of glass etched with the names "Caroline" and "Mom", inscriptions from Caroline Giuliani and her mother, Donna Hanover, then Mrs. Rudy Giuliani.
More information on PlanetEye: Gracie Mansion
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