Morris-Jumel Mansion
Encyclopedia
The Morris-Jumel Mansion (also known as the Roger and Mary Philipse Morris House), located in Washington Heights
, is the oldest house in the borough of Manhattan
in New York City
. It served as a headquarters
for both sides in the American Revolution
.
style of architecture. Morris, the nephew of a successful English architect, was greatly influenced by the designs of the 16th-century Italian architect Palladio. His residence includes a monumental portico and pediment, supported by grand Tuscan columns, and a large, two-story octagonal addition at the rear. The octagon room is believed to be the first in the country.
, the Bronx, Long Island Sound
, the Hudson River
and the Jersey Palisades are visible. It is located within the boundaries of the Jumel Terrace Historic District
.
The mansion also overlooked Coogan's Hollow and the baseball/football stadium known as the Polo Grounds
during its existence from the late 1880s to the early 1960s. The mansion is sometimes visible in old pictures of the ballfield that show Coogan's Bluff
, such as the one shown here taken in 1905.
Between September 14 and October 20, 1776, General George Washington
used the mansion as his temporary headquarters after he and his army were forced to evacuate Brooklyn Heights following their loss to the British Army under the command of General William Howe
in the Battle of Long Island
.
This house is one of the major remaining landmarks of Battle of Harlem Heights
, after which it became the headquarters of British Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton
, and the Hessian
commander Baron Wilhelm von Knyphausen
. The Morris-Jumel Mansion later hosted many other distinguished visitors, including dinner guests John Adams
, Thomas Jefferson
, Alexander Hamilton
and John Quincy Adams
.
Stephen Jumel and his wife Eliza Jumel
purchased the house in 1810. After Stephen's death, Eliza married the controversial ex-vice president Aaron Burr
who lived at the house briefly in the 1830s. After Burr's death in 1836, Eliza lived in the house alone until she died in 1865. In 1882, the Morris heirs broke up the 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) of the estate into 1058 lots.
On a rocky eminence overlooking one of the rivers, Fitz-Greene Halleck
wrote his famous lines on the Greek patriot “Marco Bozzaris.”
The house was purchased by New York City in 1903.
The house was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1961.
's A&E Network
production, Guide to Historic Homes of America, in 1996.
Today, the house is lavishly decorated with period furnishings and careful reproductions of period carpets and wallpaper. It is open to the public as a historic house museum.
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
, is the oldest house in the borough of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It served as a headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
for both sides in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Architecture
It was built by Roger Morris in 1765 and reflects the PalladianPalladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
style of architecture. Morris, the nephew of a successful English architect, was greatly influenced by the designs of the 16th-century Italian architect Palladio. His residence includes a monumental portico and pediment, supported by grand Tuscan columns, and a large, two-story octagonal addition at the rear. The octagon room is believed to be the first in the country.
Site
The mansion is located on a parcel known as “Mount Morris” from which the Harlem RiverHarlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
, the Bronx, Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
, the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
and the Jersey Palisades are visible. It is located within the boundaries of the Jumel Terrace Historic District
Jumel Terrace Historic District
Jumel Terrace Historic District is a national historic district in Washington Heights, New York, New York. It consists of 49 contributing residential rowhouses and apartment buildings between 1882 and 1909. The buildings are primarily wood or brick rowhouses in the Queen Anne and Romanesque styles...
.
The mansion also overlooked Coogan's Hollow and the baseball/football stadium known as the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
during its existence from the late 1880s to the early 1960s. The mansion is sometimes visible in old pictures of the ballfield that show Coogan's Bluff
Coogan's Bluff
Coogan's Bluff is the name of a promontory located in upper Manhattan in New York City, starting at 155th Street. Rising abruptly from the Harlem River, it is colloquially regarded as the boundary between the neighborhoods of Harlem and Washington Heights....
, such as the one shown here taken in 1905.
History
Roger Morris and Mary Philipse lived in the mansion for ten years. It was from 1765 to 1775, when the war started. They got married in the parlor, which can be seen today.Between September 14 and October 20, 1776, General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
used the mansion as his temporary headquarters after he and his army were forced to evacuate Brooklyn Heights following their loss to the British Army under the command of General William Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB, PC was a British army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American War of Independence...
in the Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776, was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the United States Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire conflict, and the...
.
This house is one of the major remaining landmarks of Battle of Harlem Heights
Battle of Harlem Heights
The Battle of Harlem Heights was fought during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The action took place in what is now the Morningside Heights and west Harlem neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City on September 16, 1776....
, after which it became the headquarters of British Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton
Henry Clinton (American War of Independence)
General Sir Henry Clinton KB was a British army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the American War of Independence. First arriving in Boston in May 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the British Commander-in-Chief in North America...
, and the Hessian
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
commander Baron Wilhelm von Knyphausen
Wilhelm von Knyphausen
Wilhelm Reichsfreiherr zu Innhausen und Knyphausen was a general from Hesse-Cassel. He fought in the American Revolutionary War, during which he led Hessian mercenaries on behalf of the British Empire.-Biography:His father was colonel in a German regiment under the Duke of Marlborough...
. The Morris-Jumel Mansion later hosted many other distinguished visitors, including dinner guests John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
and John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
.
Stephen Jumel and his wife Eliza Jumel
Eliza Jumel
Eliza Jumel was an American socialite. Born Eliza Bowen in Providence, Rhode Island to Phebe Kelley Bowen, a prostitute. Early in life Eliza Jumel worked as a prostitute herself...
purchased the house in 1810. After Stephen's death, Eliza married the controversial ex-vice president Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
who lived at the house briefly in the 1830s. After Burr's death in 1836, Eliza lived in the house alone until she died in 1865. In 1882, the Morris heirs broke up the 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) of the estate into 1058 lots.
On a rocky eminence overlooking one of the rivers, Fitz-Greene Halleck
Fitz-Greene Halleck
Fitz-Greene Halleck was an American poet notable for his satires and as one of the Knickerbocker Group. Born and reared in Guilford, Connecticut, he went to New York City at the age of 20, and lived and worked there for nearly four decades. He was sometimes called "the American Byron"...
wrote his famous lines on the Greek patriot “Marco Bozzaris.”
The house was purchased by New York City in 1903.
The house was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1961.
Recent years
The Morris-Jumel Mansion was featured in Bob VilaBob Vila
Robert Joseph "Bob" Vila is an American home improvement television show host known for This Old House , Bob Vila's Home Again , and Bob Vila .-Early life:...
's A&E Network
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
production, Guide to Historic Homes of America, in 1996.
Today, the house is lavishly decorated with period furnishings and careful reproductions of period carpets and wallpaper. It is open to the public as a historic house museum.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New York City
- Whitehall (Annapolis, Maryland)