Page 196 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

194  NE W Y ORK CIT Y AREA B Y AREA

patriotic society, in 1924 and carved from Spanish marble, the
turned into a charming re- nave columns and from veined,
creation of a Federal home. purple Levanto marble.
Costumed guides show visitors
through eight rooms, which
exhibit Chinese porcelain, r The Met Breuer
Sheraton chests, and a Duncan 945 Madison Ave. Map 17 A5.
Phyfe sofa. One bed room even q 77th St. Open 10am–5:30pm Tue–
contains a baby’s cradle and Thu & Sun, 10am–9pm Fri & Sat..
children’s toys. An 18th-century- ∑ metmuseum.org
style garden has been planted
around the house. An extension of The Metropolitan
Museum of Art, The Met Breuer
opened in March 2016 in the old
premises of the Whitney Museum
Book cover (1916) by illustrator N. C. Wyeth of American Art. Created by
architect Marcel Breuer, the
q Society of building’s Brutalist design was a
Illustrators controversial addition to the town
houses of the Upper East Side in
128 E 63rd St. Map 13 A2. Tel (212) 1966. The Met Breuer provides
838-2560. q Lexington Ave. further exhibition space for
Open 10am–8pm Tue, 10am– 20th and 21st century art,
5pm Wed–Fri, noon–4pm Sat. along with residencies,
Closed public hols. 7 restricted. 8 educational programs,
= ∑ societyillustrators.org
and unique performances.
Established in 1901, this society Stunning mosaics on the dome of the
was formed to promote the Christ Church United Methodist
illustrator’s art. Its notable roster t Gracie Mansion
included Charles Dana Gibson, N. e Christ Church East End Ave at 88th St. Map 18 D3.
C. Wyeth, and Howard Pyle. It was United Methodist Tel (212) 639-9675. q 86th St.
at first concerned with education @ M31, M79, M86. Open 10am,
and public service, and still holds 524 Park Ave. Map 13 A3. Tel (212) 838- 11am, 1pm, 2pm most Tue for
monthly lectures. In 1981, the 3036. q Fifth Ave, 59th St. Open 7am– prebooked guided tours only. & ^
Museum of American Illustration 6pm Mon–Fri, 9am & 11am Sun for 7 = ∑ nyc.gov/gracie
opened in two galleries. services. ∑ christchurchnyc.org
Changing thematic exhibitions This gracious, balconied wooden
show the history of book and With deceptively simple exteriors, 1799 country home is the official
magazine illustration, with an this dazzling Romanesque mayor’s residence. Built by
annual exhibition of the year’s structure was designed in 1931, wealthy merchant Archibald
finest American illustrations. by architect Ralph Adams Cram. Gracie, it is one of the best
Gold-leaf mosaics fill the vaulted Federal houses left in New York.
ceiling and apse, while parts of Acquired by the city in 1896,
w Mount Vernon the choir screen date from 1660, it was the first home of the
Hotel Museum and were once owned by Tsar Museum of the City of New
Nicholas II of Russia. The altar is York. In 1942 it became the
421 E 61st St. Map 13 C3. Tel (212)
838-6878. q Lexington Ave, 59th St.
Open 11am–4pm Tue–Sun.
Closed Aug, public hols. & ^ 8
= ∑ mvhm.org
Built in 1799, the Mount Vernon
Hotel Museum and Garden was
once a country day hotel for
New Yorkers who needed to
escape from the crowded city,
then only at the south end of the
island. The stone building sits on
land once owned by Abigail
Adams Smith, daughter of Presi-
dent John Adams.
It was acquired by the Colonial
Dames of America, a women’s Front view of Gracie Mansion

194-195_EW_New_York_City.indd 194 4/3/17 11:11 AM