Governor's House
National Register of Historic Places

Governor's House

New York, New York County, New York
Listed
April 25, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
73001217

About this property

The Governor's House, also known as Building 2, is a historic house on Governors Island in New York City. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The Governor's House was built c. 1805–1813, during the War of 1812 and was originally known as the Guard House. It is the oldest structure on the island that is not a fortification, but contrary to popular misconception, is not the Colonial Governor's Mansion, which was built in 1702. Building 2 was commanding officers' quarters between 1822 and 1843, then was used the main guard house and post commanding officers' quarters until the 1920s. The building was then used as officers' quarters by 1922. A brick annex was built to the south in 1939. The Governor's House is a two-story Georgian brick structure. The footprint is similar to a Greek Cross, and the gable roof projections, covered with asphalt, intersect at the center of the "cross". The entrance portico contains Ionic columns under an entablature, with a paneled wooden door behind a transom, and is accessed by a concrete-upon-brick stoop. At the entrance portico above the second story is a small lunette window. The windows around the house are six-over-six, double-hung, with brownstone windowsills. The east-side annex has a Colonial Revival doorway and cast stone sills.

Location

New York, New York County, New York
40.69090, -74.01279

Categories

MILITARYARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Admiral's House
Industrial
0 mi
Block House, The
Industrial
0.1 mi
Fort Jay
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Governors Island
Listed
0.2 mi
MARY A. WHALEN (tanker) (Additional Documentation)
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Raid on the New York Battery
1775Revolutionary War
0.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Governor's House listed on the National Register?

Governor's House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 25, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Governor's House?

Governor's House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Governor's House?

The period of significance for Governor's House is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1702.

Can I research the history near Governor's House?

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