Merchant House

The Merchant House in New York City is a remarkable home that has survived almost completely intact from the nineteenth century. Built in 1832 and later owned by the wealthy Tredwell family, the house preserves not only the architecture of the period, but also the original furnishings, and atmosphere of an upper-middle-class Manhattan home from the Victorian era.

Walking into rooms like this period feels almost as if the family has simply stepped away for the afternoon. The deep red upholstery, ornate carpeting, heavy draperies, marble fireplace and polished piano all reflect the tastes and social aspirations of prosperous New Yorkers during the mid-to-late nineteenth century. The formal parlor was designed as a space for receiving guests and social gatherings, where appearance and etiquette were important.

The house also tells the story of New York’s transformation during the nineteenth century. When the Tredwell’s first moved here, the neighborhood was an elegant residential district for wealthy families. Over time, Manhattan expanded rapidly around them as immigration, industry and population reshaped the city. While many old homes disappeared, the Merchant’s House somehow survived the waves of redevelopment that transformed everything around it.