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Eleanor Roosevelt’s New York Townhouse Hits the Market for $20 Million

The six-story limestone gem is where the first lady spent her final years

By Geoffrey Montes
Elegant historic building entrance with ornate iron doors, tall columns, and intricate architectural details.
The front of 55 East 74th Street, on the market for $20 million. Photo: Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

Smiling woman in vintage attire with a fur collar and pearls, sepia-toned photograph, outdoors.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Wikimedia Commons

The Upper East Side townhouse where beloved First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt spent her final years has hit the market for just under $20 million.

Completed in 1898 by architecture firm Buchman & Deisler, the Renaissance Revival gem was the last place Roosevelt, who was married to President Franklin Roosevelt, lived before her death in 1962. (President Roosevelt passed away during his fourth term, in 1945.) After leaving the White House, the former first lady was named a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly and relocated to New York, where she later purchased the six-story stunner jointly with close family friends, who lived in the top-floor unit.

Roosevelt was known to host political luminaries, among them President John F. Kennedy and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev. The estate is being sold along with a collection of memorabilia Roosevelt left behind, including a letter from her lawyer that recorded her deed.

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The current owners, who bought the 7,500-square-foot home in 1999, combined the two apartments to create a single-family layout. Located within the Upper East Side Historic District, the limestone landmark now boasts a full-floor master suite with home office, an elevator servicing all levels, a garden in the rear, and a roof terrace with views of nearby Central Park.

Take a tour of the six-bedroom, five-bath home below:

Elegant dining room with a round table, chandelier, fireplace, and colorful abstract artwork on the walls.
The dining area. Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

Elegant living room with large windows, plush sofas, a grand piano, vibrant artwork, and a decorative fireplace.
The living room. Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

Elegant living room with plush sofa, large art piece, chandelier, and fireplace, featuring glass doors and a large mirror.
The entrance gallery. Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

The media room. Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

Elegant bedroom with large windows, a fireplace, wall-mounted TV, and a chandelier above a cozy bed.
The master bedroom Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

Elegant foyer with a grand staircase, chandelier, and artwork on walls, leading to a spacious living area with large windows.
The stair hall. Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

Red plaque honoring Eleanor Roosevelt's contributions to human rights, UN involvement, and residence from 1959 to 1962.
The plaque on the front of the house. Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

Floor plans showcasing multiple levels of a building with detailed room layouts and approximate measurements.
The floor plan. Courtesy of Douglas Elliman

55 East 74th Street is listed with Lisa Simonsen and Gabrielle Corrao of Douglas Elliman.