13 and 15 West 54th Street

The two buildings at 13 and 15 West 54th Street display stone exteriors with rough textured lower floors and bay windows curved toward the street. Inside, each structure holds about 2,500 square feet of space extending deep into the block, now housing offices and shops.

Built between 1896 and 1897, these Renaissance-style structures were designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh as homes for wealthy families. John D. Rockefeller Sr. acquired number 13 in 1906 and lived there for several years during the early 1900s.

Both buildings sit in central Midtown along West 54th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, making them easy to spot on foot. Today they operate as office and retail spaces open to pedestrians passing by the storefronts.

Number 15 housed the Museum of Primitive Art from 1957 to 1976, displaying art from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. This private collection offered New York audiences works rarely seen in other galleries at that time.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1897

Part of: Residences at 5-15 West 54th Street

Address: 13-15 West 54th Street

GPS coordinates: 40.76167,-73.97639

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:57