Self-Guided Visit
View exterior from Carl Schurz Park
The Federal-style mansion is visible from the surrounding Carl Schurz Park at East End Avenue and 88th Street. The grounds and park paths are open to the public year-round.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Haunted House / Historic Home
Gracie Mansion
NYC's 1799 mayoral residence where two sitting mayors publicly reported doors opening on their own, floor creaks, and voices with no source.
88th Street and East End Avenue, New York, NY 10128
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Public tours are currently paused. When offered, they are free or low-cost with advance reservation. The grounds at Carl Schurz Park are always open to the public.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Grounds and park paths are level; interior tour access may be limited
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1799 · Built 1799 by Archibald Gracie; among the oldest surviving wood-frame structures in Manhattan · Hosted Alexander Hamilton, John Jacob Astor, and Louis Philippe I · Official mayoral residence since 1942 · Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Archibald Gracie built his country estate in 1799 on what was then rural land above the East River, near the northern tip of Manhattan. The site had previously been occupied by Belview Mansion, built in 1770 and destroyed during the American Revolutionary War. Gracie — a Scottish-born merchant who had made his fortune in international shipping — used the property as a summer retreat and entertainment venue, hosting guests including Alexander Hamilton, John Jacob Astor, and future French king Louis Philippe I.
Gracie's fortunes collapsed during the War of 1812, and he sold the property in 1823. The house passed through several subsequent owners before the city acquired it in 1896 as part of the expansion of what became Carl Schurz Park. For decades it served undignified purposes: a public restroom, an ice cream stand, and eventually a museum annex for the Museum of the City of New York from 1924 to 1936.
In 1942, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia designated the mansion as the official residence of New York City's mayor — the first mayor to actually live there was Robert F. Wagner Jr., in 1942. A formal reception wing was added in 1966, named for first lady Susan Wagner. Major renovations were completed in 1983–1984 and again in 2002.
The mansion is managed by the Gracie Mansion Conservancy and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracie_Mansion
- https://www.graciemansion.org/
- https://historichousetrust.org/houses/gracie-mansion/
Doors opening and closing without explanationUnexplained creaking floorsVoices or whispers heard in empty rooms
Two sitting occupants of Gracie Mansion have gone on record describing paranormal experiences in the building. Former First Lady Chirlane McCray, who lived there during Bill de Blasio's mayoralty, described hearing doors opening and closing on their own, unexplained creaks from the wooden floors, and what she identified as whispers from Archibald Gracie's daughter. The claim about a specific Gracie family member is the most precise attribution in the building's ghost lore — though the historical record does not confirm a death occurring in the house.
Mayor Eric Adams, who held office from 2022 to 2025, was candid about the mansion's atmosphere in multiple public statements. He told CBS News: 'I don't care what anyone says, there are ghosts in there, man.' In a speech in Washington, D.C., Adams offered his successor a pointed warning: 'Beware of the ghost. It's a friendly ghost, as long as you're doing right by the city. If you don't become right by the city, he turns into a poltergeist.'
When Adams left office in January 2025, he repeated the warning directly to incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was preparing to move in. The joke — or warning, depending on interpretation — received national coverage.
The mansion's ghost tradition follows a pattern common to long-occupied historic residences: figures associated with the building's founding family persist in oral tradition as protective or restless presences. The particular claim about an Archibald Gracie family member circulates without a named person or a documented death in the house.
Notable Entities
Archibald Gracie (1755–1829; merchant; built the mansion in 1799)Unnamed member of Gracie family (per Chirlane McCray's account)
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Similar Destinations
Haunted House / Historic Home
Billop House
Staten Island, NY
The Billop House, also known as the Conference House, was built by Royal Navy Officer Christopher Billopp around 1680 and served as the site of the 1776 Staten Island Peace Conference between British Commander William Howe and Colonial representatives including Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge. The historical significance of this failed peace negotiation shaped the trajectory of the American Revolutionary War.
$ All ages
Family: High
Haunted House / Historic Home
Van Cortlandt House Museum
Bronx, NY
Frederick Van Cortlandt built the house in 1748, making it the oldest known surviving building in the Bronx. During the Revolution, General George Washington used it as a headquarters on multiple occasions; it was also occupied by British and Hessian forces during their period of control. A British officer named Captain Rowe (or Rau in some tellings) was severely wounded in battle nearby in 1780 and died in an upstairs bedroom of the house just after his fiancée arrived. The Van Cortlandt family occupied the house until 1823; it is now operated as a museum under the NYC Historic House Trust.
$ All Ages
Family: High
Haunted House / Historic Home
12 Gay Street (Gay Street Phantom)
New York, NY
The four-story brick townhouse at 12 Gay Street was built around 1827, when Gay Street was being developed as modest housing on what had been stable land behind the elegant homes of Waverly Place. In the 1920s, New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker acquired the building and used it as a residence for his mistress, actress and Ziegfeld Follies performer Betty Compton. It later housed a speakeasy called the Pirate's Den, and in subsequent decades the Howdy Doody puppet was created in its basement by puppeteer Frank Paris.
$ All Ages
Family: High
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gracie Mansion family-friendly?
A historic landmark with no disturbing content. Appropriate for all ages. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Gracie Mansion?
Public tours are currently paused. When offered, they are free or low-cost with advance reservation. The grounds at Carl Schurz Park are always open to the public. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Gracie Mansion wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Gracie Mansion is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Grounds and park paths are level; interior tour access may be limited.