See a Freestanding Spiral Staircase Inside Pelham Bay Mansion
Walk through 1830s stone parlors and sweeping bay gardens at New York City's secluded country estate.
🏛️ Greek Revival Architecture
Bartow-Pell Mansion stands as the only surviving 19th-century country estate along Pelham Bay, surrounded by quiet orchards and formal stone gardens. Inside, Greek Revival double parlors feature pocket doors and grand fireplaces, but the centerpiece remains an elliptical spiral staircase rising unsupported through three floors. During the blistering summer of 1936, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia ran municipal affairs from a basement phone bank, turning the stone house into a cool headquarters. Open Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00, guided docent tours depart at 12:15, 13:15, 14:15, and 15:15, giving visitors access to period bedchambers and carriage rooms. Located on Shore Road in the Bronx, the landmark pairs quiet waterside history with easy afternoon access.
