Manhattan’s oldest residence can be found in Washington Heights.
Built in 1765 by a British military officer, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is full of history and culture. It once served as George Washington’s headquarters during the American Revolution. It has hosted many distinguished visitors over the years, including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton before it was officially declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
Photo Courtesy Arnold Moses, HABS photographer
Today, the mansion operates as a house museum in order to preserve and interpret American culture from the colonial era to present day. As part of this ongoing mission, interesting events and tours are frequently held inside the museum. There’s Vinyasa Yoga, for example, as well as music concerts and historical lectures.
The most eerie event is the Paranormal Investigation.
As part of the program, participants get the opportunity to learn the basics of ghost hunting by investigating the mansion, which is believed to be haunted by a number of ghosts — mostly notably Aaron Burr, the third vice president of the United States, and Eliza Jumel, once one of the wealthiest women in New York.
According to reports, her ghost still roams the building and taps on the doors and windows of the mansion. There have also been apparition sightings throughout the years. In the '60s, for example, a mysterious woman appeared on the balcony of the house and told visiting school children to quiet down, even though no one occupied the building at the time.
The ghost of a servant girl has also been spotted on the top floor where the servant quarters used to be.
For more information about the Paranormal Investigation, visit: http://www.morrisjumel.org/upcoming-events/
Cover Photo Courtesy of Elisa Rolle
Licensed using Creative Commons 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)
