Andrew Carnegie House: A Simple Guide to the Historic NYC Mansion
Hello everyone! Today we are going to talk about one of the richest men of America, Andrew Carnegie. Yes, you heard it right. Andrew Carnegie’s house is known as the Andrew Carnegie Mansion, located in New York City. We will also be answering some of the common questions like where did Andrew Carnegie live? and why this mansion is more than just a pretty old property.
The Andrew Carnegie House
When someone says Andrew Carnegie House, it literally refers to the Andrew Carnegie Mansion, a historic place located at 2 East 91st Street on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. It is a three-and-a-half-story building made from bricks and stones, designed in a Georgian Revival style with Colonial influences. It is not just like any other mansion because it has 64 rooms spread across multiple floors, including a basement and an attic.
Where Did Andrew Carnegie Live?
Some of you are wondering where Andrew Carnegie lived, so the answer would be he didn’t just stay in one house. Instead, he split his time between two main residences: the mansion in New York City and Skibo Castle in Scotland.
He moved to his New York mansion in December 1902 and lived there until he died in 1919. After his death, his wife Louise stayed on in the same house until her death in 1946.
A Bit of History
Andrew Carnegie bought this land back in 1896. He strategically picked a spot far north of where most of his wealthy peers lived at that time. He hired the architectural firm Babb, Cook & Willard via a design competition.
Construction of the mansion ran from about 1899 to 1902.
If you talk about the design of his house, he was thinking far ahead of his time. He wanted a place where, after his retirement (which was around 1901), he could continue overseeing his philanthropic work. And indeed, from his office in that mansion, he directed donations to build public libraries across the U.S. and to fund educational and cultural institutes in both the U.S. and Scotland.
Architectural Features and Innovation of Andrew Carnegie Mansion
This is the most interesting property, but what fascinates me more is how innovative it was for its time. Here are some of the standout features:
- It was the first private house in the USA to have a structural steel frame, which was a groundbreaking thing for a home at that time.
- It had multiple electric Otis passenger elevators, which was a huge thing.
- There was central heating and a system to cool and humidify rooms.
- For fuel, coal was transferred via a miniature train track in the cellar running to giant boilers.
The Garden and Surroundings
Carnegie didn’t just build a big house; he also made sure there was a beautiful outdoor space. This house sits on a 1.2-acre lot, giving room for the garden to the south and west of the building. Because of these generous grounds, it is one of the few private green spaces in Manhattan you would see even today.
One highlight of this garden is a stone-and-timber pergola that offers a shady, scenic spot overlooking the greenery. The terrace and garden are both enclosed by an ornate cast-iron fence with granite piers topped with urns.
Inside This Mansion
If you go inside this mansion, you would feel it is both comfortable and grand. On the first floor, there is a stair hall, picture gallery, library, and conservatory. On the upper floors, there are Carnegie’s private bedrooms, guest rooms, and quarters for staff.
Because of the steel framing and mechanical systems, the house was as much about functionality as it was about elegance.
From a Private Mansion to a Public Museum
After his wife passed away in 1947, the mansion’s story shifted. For a while, Columbia University’s School of Social Work occupied the building from 1949 to 1971.
Then in 1972, the Carnegie Corporation donated the mansion to the Smithsonian Institution. By 1976, it reopened as the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
In my view, the Carnegie Mansion stands out because it is historically rich. I mean, it was the home of one of the greatest philanthropists of his era. It was forward in technology. The design choices show Carnegie was thinking about modern comfort, not just grandeur.
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