Leave it to the Ladies—Women and Historic Preservation
In 1853 Louisa Bird Cunningham was traveling by steamboat down the Potomac River. As the boat passed George Washington’s home, …
Category Archives: Historic House Museums
More Ghostly Than a Ghost
First Cup of Coffee Our youngest grandson came by yesterday. A junior in college, he towers over us and has a …
“Our society will be defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy.” John Sawhill
John Sawhill, the conservationist who made this observation, had nature in mind, but I think it applies even more powerfully …
Check Out the Size of That Dinner Napkin!
In 1840, when Henry Cole painted The Dinner Party, napkins had to be very large to cover the voluminous skirts …
How and Why We Became Publishers, Part Three, Merchant’s House Meet POD
After we moved to Manhattan we made it a point to see all the things people come to the city …
Small Talk, New Year’s Day, 1861
When I did the research for An Old Merchant’s House: Life at Home in New York City 1835-65, I relied …
How a 100-Year Old House Became an Historic House Museum
And now, 80 years later, The Merchant’s House Museum still offers visitors a unique window into the lives of mid-19th century …
Just Released! Miracle on Fourth Street: Saving an Old Merchant’s House
What Makes the Merchant’s House a Miracle August, 1933—The country was in the depths of the Great Depression. Gertrude Tredwell had …
The Historic House Tells It Like It Was
To feel the world of the nineteenth century in our bones, it’s necessary to find a place that can take …
When Is a Window Not a Window?
Answer: when it’s between rooms instead of between a room and the outdoors. You’re not expected to look through a …
