Gracie Mansion

Gracie Mansion Review

The official mayor's residence, Gracie Mansion was built in 1799 by shipping merchant Archibald Gracie, and enlarged in 1966. Tours of the impressive interior—which must be scheduled in advance and take place under limited hours—take you through the building's history and its colorful rooms furnished over centuries and packed with American objets d'art. Nine mayors have lived here since it became the official residence in 1942, though Michael Bloomberg broke with tradition and chose to stay in his own 79th Street town house during his three terms as mayor. In 2012, the mansion's kitchen closed for a $1.4 million renovation to eliminate the mazelike layout, install energy-efficient equipment, and improve plumbing and electrical systems.