Morris-Jumel Mansion
65 Jumel Terrace (between West
160th and 162nd Streets)
Manhattan
(212) 923-8008 Summary:
A house with a colorful history,
featuring furnishings from Colonial,
Revolutionary, Federal and American
Empire eras. George Washington slept
here; Vice President Aaron Burr lived
here; and what was once Napolean's bed
remains on display.
The Morris-Jumel Mansion is
the oldest remaining house in Manhattan.
It was built in 1765 as a summer house
for British Colonel Roger Morris and his
wife. At the outbreak of the
Revolutionary War, the house was seized
by Revolutionary forces and used as the
headquarters of General George Washington
after his initial retreat from lower
Manhattan. After the war, the house was
used as a roadside tavern.
In 1810, it was purchased by
French immigrant Stephen Jumel who lived
there with his wife, Eliza Bowen. After
her husband died in 1832, Eliza married
former Vice President Aaron Burr,
supposedly for his stature and he
supposedly for her wealth. The marriage
lasted three years, ending in divorce in
1836.
Eliza travelled in France
extensively and moved in Napoleonic
circles. In fact, she offered Napoleon
safe passage to New York after his defeat
at Waterloo (he declined the offer). But
while she was not able to bring Napoleon
to America, she was able to bring back
many French antiques, some of which were
reportedly Napoleon's own belongings.
Some of these items are now on display in
the house.
What To See
Ask the manager to show you the
five minute documentary on the
Morris-Jumel Mansion when you arrive. It
is interesting and gives you an idea of
the house's history and architectural
style.
Be sure also to read the
plaques in each room which describe the
significance of each room's furnishings.
Although you will not be able to walk
around the rooms, you can get a good look
at each room's contents (mostly
eighteenth and nineteenth century
furniture) by stepping in as far as the
divider will permit.
Eliza Jumel
The most
interesting room in the house is Eliza
Jumel's bed chamber and adjoining
dressing room. Considered the wealthiest
American woman of her time, she also
happens to be the most interesting figure
attached to this house.
Many of Eliza's own
belongings and some of the most
"royal" pieces she had in her
furniture and antique collection are on
display. Her bed belonged to Napoleon
himself at one time and was rumored to
have been the bed in which he slept while
he was First Consul of France.
Eliza's bedroom also
contains one of Napoleon's
"dolphin" chairs and the
slipper chairs of Queen Hortense of the
Netherlands, daughter of Empress
Josephine and mother of Napoleon III.
Washington And Burr,
Too
Our first president
and our third vice president had their
own rooms at the Morris-Jumel house, too.
Across the hall from Eliza's bed chamber
is Aaron Burr's, and at the far end of
the second floor hall is Washington's
office. Both rooms have been restored to
resemble what they would have looked like
while these men used them.
Disappointments
Although the
Morris-Jumel Mansion has a fascinating
history, is on the National Register of
Historic Places, and is a New York City
landmark, we found that its present state
does not live up to its past. Several
factors in particular disappointed us:
- There are no tours
of the house, a fact which
surprised us immensely. In all
fairness, the manager is
available to answer any questions
you may have. But a tour given by
a knowledgeable guide would have
made our trip a lot more
worthwhile.
- We were disappointed
by the lack of original furniture
and decorations in the house. In
fact much of what you will see
does not even belong to the
Morris-Jumel house, and is merely
on loan from other institutions,
such as the Metropolitan Museum
of Art. While we realize it is
often difficult to track down
original furnishings, we believe
it is only fair to warn you that
you will not see the house as it
was 200 years ago.
- Frankly, we had
expected a nicer setting. Some
attention has been given to the
garden, but the lawns needed to
be mowed and the walkways needed
maintenance. And although George
Washington and Roger Morris may
have had a beautiful view of the
Hudson, the Harlem River, and
even Staten Island, those views
are completely gone now. In fact,
though the mansion is nearly on
top of the Hudson River, you will
only be able to catch a small
glimpse of it through the trees
and large buildings that lay in
between.
Who Should Go
There are a few
interesting facts to learn at the
Morris-Jumel Mansion, and it is nice to
be able to say that you have seen one of
Napoleon's beds and one of the places
from which Washington commanded his army
during the Revolutionary War.
Moreover, those with an
interest in architecture may enjoy seeing
the oldest octagonal room in the U.S. and
exploring the type of building that
influenced eighteenth century Georgian
architecture. You may also be interested
in viewing the "Jumel Wings"
which decorate the archways of the first
floor and hearing about the controversy
that surrounded them for a time. But if
you do not have a deep interest in
architectural history, we suggest that
you go to some of the larger and more
centrally located historical museums in
Manhattan.
How To Get There
By subway, take the
B (weekdays) or C (weekends) train to
163rd Street and walk down St. Nicholas
Avenue to 162nd Street. Walk east one
block until you come to Jumel Terrace and
take a right. The mansion is on your
left.
By bus, take the M2 to 160th
St. and Edgecombe Avenue and walk uphill
one block; take the M3 or M18 to 160th
St. and St. Nicholas Avenue; or take the
M101 to 160th Street and Amsterdam
Avenue.
By car from the East Side,
take the FDR Drive north to the Harlem
River Drive. Exit onto 135th Street, turn
right on St. Nicholas Avenue, take
another right onto 160th Street and drive
one block before taking a left onto Jumel
Terrace. From the West Side, take Henry
Hudson Parkway north. Exit onto 158th
Street, turn left onto St. Nicholas
Avenue, turn right onto 160th Street and
continue for one block before taking a
left onto Jumel Terrace. Parking is
available on Jumel Terrace.
by Andrew Roche
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