Yesterday Eddie and I went to the Morris-Jumel Mansion, supposedly the oldest home in Manhattan. It was built by a British Captain and his American Wife.
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It was really interesting on a lot of levels. Apparently, for a while in 1776, the house was used by George Washington for his headquarters one season. After the war and Washington was President he threw a dinner there on a visit back to New York and it was attended by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and John Qunicy Adams and their wives. All four were or would be President.
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Later the Morris-Jumel family adopted a french relation - who visited Paris and ultimately offered Napoleon safe haven after he was overthrow. He didn't take it, but did give her some furniture. See the room below.
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The bed and the winged angel above it are supposed both from Napoleon. The woman later married Arron Burr! The divorced a year after marriage (but it took 3 years and they lived in the house together during this time).
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This room was Aaron Burr's bed chamber. What I thought was kind of funny is that she immediately dumped his name here (it was not so fashionable in America), but went as Mrs. Burr in Europe after his death because it carried more prestige.
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Anyway, the house is very sparse, but some of the rooms were dressed (as you see). It is way up in Harlem on 162nd Street and the Harlem river. It was a fun day.