Gracie Mansion, undated (1970-90).

The Archibald Gracie Mansion was built between 1799 and 1801 on the site of a former Revolutionary War fort, overlooking Hell Gate and the East River from a promontory on Manhattan’s east side, then some five miles north of city development.

Gracie, a Scottish-born merchant, entertained elite guests at his new country mansion, including John Quincy Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and the future King of France, Louis Philippe I. He sold the house in 1823, in order to ease financial pressures. In 1890, the estate and its grounds were incorporated into East River Park (renamed Carl Schurz Park in 1910), with the mansion initially put to use for park functions.

From 1924 to 1932, Gracie Mansion was the first home of the Museum of the City of New York. After the Museum moved to its current home on Fifth Avenue, the mansion operated as an historic house museum. However, Robert Moses had different plans.

In 1942, the Parks Commissioner designated Gracie Mansion the official residence of the mayor. Fiorello La Guardia was the first mayor to occupy the house. Sixty years later, the billionaire three-term mayor Michael Bloomberg elected not to take up residence at Gracie, allowing extensive restoration work to take place during his tenure.