Morris-Jumel Mansion

The oldest house in Manhattan is a must-visit destination for American history buffs. Built by British Colonel Roger Morris in 1765 as a summer home, the Morris-Jumel Mansion was used by George Washington as headquarters in the American Revolutionary War. Today the mansion serves as a museum showcasing American life from the colonial era to the present.

Strategic Location

The Morris-Jumel Mansion is one of the main remaining landmarks from the 1776 Battle of Harlem Heights. General George Washington chose the house due to its key location overlooking the Harlem and Hudson rivers. In 1790 he returned to the Morris-Jumel Mansion as President of the United States to host a dinner with members of his cabinet, which included future presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

A Long List of Owners

After the revolution the mansion was used as an inn and had several owners. In 1810, French wine merchant Stephen Jumel and his wife Eliza bought the house to use as their summer home. After Stephen died in 1832, Eliza married former vice president Aaron Burr. Burr passed away in 1836 and Eliza lived in the house until she died in 1865. The City of New York bought the house in 1903 and it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.