House at 51 Market Street, Federal architecture house in Lower Manhattan, US
The house at 51 Market Street is a red brick structure with detailed stone features and an English basement at ground level. Two additional floors were added in the late 19th century, creating the four-story building seen today.
The building was constructed in 1824-25 as a two-story structure with a gambrel roof and was later expanded with two additional floors in the late 19th century. This enlargement reflects how Manhattan's growth during the Industrial era reshaped existing residences.
The house reflects building styles that wealthy New Yorkers favored after the War of 1812 ended. It shows how successful merchants of that era designed their homes to display their prosperity.
The structure sits between Madison and Monroe Streets and now functions as a residential rental building integrated into Lower Manhattan's streetscape. Visitors can view the facade from the street and appreciate the architectural details from the outside.
William Clark, the original owner and local grocer, died in 1836 before he could implement his plans to convert the house into rental spaces. These unrealized plans suggest that transforming it into a multi-family building may have been considered from the property's early years.
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