Adelaide L. T. Douglas House, Historic residence in Murray Hill, Manhattan, US
The Adelaide L. T. Douglas House is a six-story limestone structure on Park Avenue displaying French classical design with a rusticated base and second-floor balcony. The building stands between East 37th and 38th streets and retains its original exterior appearance despite being converted from a private residence to office space for diplomatic use.
Built between 1909 and 1911 for Adelaide Townsend Douglas, the house resulted partly from a settlement for damages to a previous building during the excavation of New York City's first subway line. The former private residence became Guatemala's permanent mission to the United Nations in 1978.
The residence reflects how wealthy Park Avenue residents displayed their status through French-inspired design in the early 1900s. The ornate limestone details and balanced proportions show the architectural preferences of that era's elite.
The building sits on a busy stretch of Park Avenue between two cross streets and is easy to spot thanks to its light limestone facade. The exterior is fully visible from the street, though the interior remains closed to the public due to its use as diplomatic offices.
The house was built as a direct result of subway excavation damages to a previous building on the same site, creating a settlement that funded this new construction. This unusual origin story connects the residence to a key moment in the city's transportation infrastructure development.
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