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Gracie Mansion
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| Situated on
East End Avenue at
88th Street,
Gracie Mansion, is the official residence of the Mayor of the City of
New York, it is approached via its own gatehouse and driveway to its
elevated position in the northern section of Carl Schurz Park,
overlooking a part of the East River known as "Hellgate" the name coming
from a Dutch word meaning beautiful view. The main part of the building
was built in 1799 for Archibald Gracie, a wealthy shipping magnate.
Since then the building has been a Department of Parks service
structure, an
ice cream parlour, and then in 1924 became the home for the first Museum
of the City of New York. In 1936 it became a restored house museum. |
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Due to a demand to host an ever
increasing number of
public functions, Mayor Robert F. Wagner and his First Lady, Susan E
Wagner, initiated plans for an additional wing which was to include a
grand ballroom and two additional reception rooms. Mrs Wagner died in
1964 and the new wing, completed in 1966, was named in her memory.Time
took its toll on the Mansion, so in 1981 Mayor Edward Koch instigated a
major conservation project to restore the building to its former glory. |
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Interior
architectural features and ornaments such as mantles and mouldings were
restored, heating and electrical systems were modernised, some sections
of the house were rebuilt, and the main rooms were decorated in such a
way as to fit its historical period. |
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The main floor is furnished with a selection of art and antiques created by New York
cabinet makers, painters and sculptors. Several pieces in the collection
had originally belonged to the Gracie family. At the centre of the marble entrance
hall floor, is a painted compass representing the maritime connections that
the Gracie fortune was built upon. |
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Mayor Edward I. Koch established the Gracie
Mansion Conservancy in 1981 to preserve and enhance the house, as well
as to promote Gracie Mansion as a centre of social, political and
artistic activity.
The non profit Gracie Mansion Conservancy continues to this day with the
intension of promoting and maintaining this historic site and its
collection, for the benefit of the people of New York. |
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New
York City Guide
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