895 SHORE ROAD, PELHAM BAY PARK, BRONX, NEW YORK
The majestic Bartow-Pell mansion, nestled within the sprawling 9-acre estate of Pelham Bay Park, the largest park in the New York City region, surpassing even the expanse of Central Park.
With roots dating back to 1000 A.D., this land was once inhabited by the Lenape tribe, before Thomas Pell, an English physician, acquired approximately 50,000 acres through a treaty in 1654. Today, the Bartow-Pell mansion stands as a tangible link to the social and architectural history of New York.
While the architect remains unknown, the two-story stone mansion boasts a façade in the Greek Revival style. Inside, visitors are treated to a Federal architectural style, adorned with period furnishings, exquisite mouldings, and an array of fine and decorative arts. Beyond the mansion walls, the estate encompasses lush grounds, a formal garden, and a charming carriage house.
Constructed between 1836 and 1842, the Bartow-Pell mansion represents the third iteration of residences on this historic site. Purchased by publisher Robert Bartow and his wife Maria Lorillard in 1836, the estate thrived as a working farm spanning 220 acres.
In 1888, the Bartow family ceded ownership to New York City, which incorporated the estate into the formation of Pelham Bay Park. Subsequently, the International Garden Club leased the mansion in 1914, commissioning the renowned architectural firm Delano and Aldrich to transform it into a clubhouse with a formal garden. Finally, in 1946, the mansion opened its doors as a museum, becoming the last remaining 19th-century grand country home in Pelham Bay.
