Merchant's House Museum

Happy Juneteenth!

On June 19, we commemorate the emancipation enslaved African Americans, marking the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, TX, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

Before the Emancipation Proclamation and the passing of the 13th Amendment, and after decades of so-called "gradual emancipation," New York State abolished slavery on July 4, 1827.

To celebrate here in NYC, on July 5, between two and four thousand African Americans, including newly emancipated people, marched from St John’s Park to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. It was known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day. African American Samuel Hardenburgh led the procession as the Grand Marshal.

“It was a proud day in the City of New York for our people, that 5th day of July, 1827. It was a proud day for Samuel Hardenburgh, Grand Marshal, splendidly mounted, as he passed through the west gate of the Park, saluted the Mayor on the City Hall steps and then took his way down Broadway to the Battery. It was a proud day for his aids, in their dress and trappings; it was a proud day for the Societies and their officers; it was a proud day, never to be forgotten, by young lads, who first felt themselves impelled along that grand procession of liberty; which…is still ‘marching on…,’” a Black physician recounts his memory of the parade in 1828 (as quoted in "Festivals of Freedom" by Mitch Kachun, 2003).

Pictured: Scenes from Charleston's Emancipation Parade, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, February 10, 1877; AME Zion Church, 1867.

Let’s Go Knicks! Did you know the first ticker tape parade happened in 1886?

New Yorkers celebrated the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty with a parade following the same “Canyon of Heroes” route as the Knicks in today's parade. The ticker tape tradition started at this parade, as people threw ribbons of tape out of office windows in celebration. Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper published the first illustration of a ticker tape parade on October 27, 1888.

Tonight! One of our (and your!) favorite annual traditions returns with 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧!

Join us on Thursdays this summer for an informal evening with light refreshments in our 19th century garden in bloom. The garden is open 5 to 8 p.m., no reservations necessary.

On select evenings, guided house tours, live music, or casual talks will be offered at 6 p.m. Tours are $20, music & talks free.

Thursday, June 4, 6 p.m. – Guided House Tour
Thursday, June 11, 6 p.m. – Guided House Tour
Thursday, June 18, 6 p.m. – Live Music with Jazz Flutist Cheryl Pyle

In this month’s virtual “Death Matters” program, Matilda welcomes Bindu Lanka, Chaplain at Children’s Health Services, Plano, TX. They will discuss Hindu traditions around death, dying, and grief, recognizing geographical differences and exploring the experience of the diaspora here in the U.S. and how they bring the traditions to this country. This conversation will include a discussion of the concept of karma, so often misinterpreted, as well as reincarnation.

Bindu Lanka is a compassionate professional with a dual background in spiritual care and human resources. In addition to her work as chaplain, she is certified by the Government of India as a Yoga Wellness Instructor and is also a certified Datta Kriya Yoga teacher, integrating mind-body practices with spiritual growth.

Thursday, May 21, 6 p.m. on Zoom! The program will be recorded.

Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_evdctCduSKGEaSs9zDpnxg

On May 11, 1936 -- 90 years ago today -- the Merchant's House first opened to the public. As stated in The New York Sun, "it is like stepping into another world."

When Joseph Brewster built the Merchant's House, in 1832, his design for the 4-story brick-and-marble row house mirrored the prevailing architectural style of the period. Brewster featured one notable exception in his design, however: a hidden passageway.

The narrow passageway is hidden beneath a set of built-in drawers on the Bedroom Floor. Approximately 2 feet square, it descends 15 feet down, past the Parlor Floor, and ends at the Ground Floor. The passageway is completely unique; no other 1830s houses have anything like it.

The evidence indicates that Brewster intended the passageway as a space to hide freedom-seekers in the early days of the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad in New York City.

The passageway is now on view.

Photos by Max Touhey.

Have you ever wanted to know how successful New Yorkers decorated their homes in the mid-19th century? Curious what furniture was in vogue? Window coverings? What floor coverings were used in various rooms? Wonder where and how they purchased their furnishings?

Join expert interior designer Dennis McAvena on Saturday, May 16, for an in-depth and behind-the-scenes exploration of the elegant interiors of Merchant’s House.

This 90-minute tour takes place outside general museum hours, ensuring an exclusive experience. Tickets at www.merchantshouse.org/calendar/reservations.

In the 19th century, people regularly exchanged letters with family members and friends, sometimes writing two or three letters a day. Notice the portable writing desk on the table, located near the window for maximum light.

People sent news, greetings, invitations, and more through the mail. Letters were carried around the world by trains, boats, and horses – or just across town by a servant or local mail carrier. When sent long distances, they could take weeks, even months, to reach their destination.

It's May! We have a full calendar of upcoming events this month, and hope to see you soon. Register online at www.merchantshouse.org/calendar/reservations.