Merchant's House Museum

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Built in 1832, the Merchant’s House is NYC's only family home preserved intact – inside and out – from the 19th century.
Now on view from the Tredwell Costume Collection! Now on view from the Tredwell Costume Collection! This half-mourning dress was likely worn by several women in the Tredwell family. A widow stayed in mourning for two to three years after the death of her husband. The first half of that period, deep mourning, was spent in black, lusterless garments, with a heavy black veil. The later stage, known as half-mourning, was characterized by the introduction of colors: white, gray, and shades of purple. This hand-sewn dress from the 1840s has a fitted bodice, round waist at the natural waistline, and dropped shoulders with long bishop sleeves.
Walk in the footsteps of Irish servants on this ho Walk in the footsteps of Irish servants on this house tour, Sunday, November 15 at 3pm. Now featuring recent research on the lives of Irish immigrants, this “back-stairs” tour tells the heroic story of the Irish women who worked in domestic service in 19th century New York. You’ll visit four floors of period rooms, from the ground floor kitchen to the 4th floor servants’ quarters, experiencing what daily life was really like for the Tredwells’ Irish servants. 75-90 minutes. Tickets at the link in our bio!
Dealing with pests -- including rodents -- was an Dealing with pests -- including rodents -- was an ongoing struggle for 19th century New Yorkers, even those in wealthy households, like the Tredwells. Domestic manuals offered recipes for various poisons that could be used, although it's likely many households also kept a cat on hand to assist.
Ghost Tours are selling quickly ... so we've added Ghost Tours are selling quickly ... so we've added another night! Join us on Wednesday, October 28. Link in profile! Public programs at the Merchant's House -- including ghost tours -- often increase paranormal activity in the house, and guests attending events have reported experiencing something out of the ordinary. Just last year, visitors were on a Ghost Tour when the tour guide was interrupted by erratic footsteps, as if someone was running, which came from the children's bedrooms above them. In shock, the tour guide waited listening to the footsteps. The children's bedrooms are museum offices, which are always empty and locked during Ghost Tours. Could the footsteps have been one of the eight children who lived in the house? Join us and decide for yourself.
New SUPER SPOOKY Ghost Tour Added! Link in our bio New SUPER SPOOKY Ghost Tour Added! Link in our bio to buy tickets.
Tomorrow is the first night of Candlelight Ghost T Tomorrow is the first night of Candlelight Ghost Tours! We’ve added a new night as well - October 28th. Tickets at the link in our bio. We (and the Tredwell family) hope to see you there! The Tredwell family lived at 29 East 4th Street for nearly 100 years, and at least eight people died in the house. Reports of strange and inexplicable occurrences have been widespread since Gertrude, the last surviving Tredwell, died in 1933. Is it Gertrude who is watching over her family home? Join us and decide for yourself.
Today is National Dessert Day so we thought we wou Today is National Dessert Day so we thought we would do our Merchant's House spin on it! Want to learn more about funeral customs in the 19th century? Join a Candlelight Ghost Tour or visit the house in mourning. Tickets at the link in bio!
Happy Indigenous People’s Day! We acknowledge that Happy Indigenous People’s Day! We acknowledge that the land that the Merchant’s House rests on is Lenapehoking, the ancestral lands of the Lenape people, Mannahatta, which we call New York City. Mannahatta means, “place for gathering wood to make bows.” The Dutch’s arrival in 1624 caused the violent displacement of the Lenape from their land. The English later took control and continued to push the Lenape further west. This systemic displacement was deadly and damaging to the Lenape as the settlers brought disease and disrupted their means for using the land to fish, hunt, and farm. Over time, many Lenape were forced to relocate multiple times because of colonization. Today, Lenape communities can be found in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ontario, and New Jersey.
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Merchant's House Museum

29 East Fourth Street
New York, NY 10003

212 777 1089 | nyc1832@merchantshouse.org

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