Richmond Hill

Prior to the American Revolution, this site was the entrance to Richmond Hill, the country estate of British Major Abraham Mortier. In 1776, soon after the commencement of the War of Independence, the estate became the headquarters of General George Washington. From 1789 to 1790, when New York City was the nation’s first capital, the estate was the residence of Vice President John Adams and his wife Abigail. Vice President Aaron Burr lived here beginning in 1794 and sold the property in haste in 1804 after the duel at Weehawken, in which he mortally wounded his rival Alexander Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, and other leaders of America and Europe were entertained here. The Butterick Publishing Company erected this building as its headquarters in 1903, with Horgan & Slattery as architects and Louis Tiffany as interior designer.

New York, New York · United States