Want to own a piece of American history? Eleanor Roosevelt’s historic 150-year-old Upper East Side townhouse is on the market for a cool USD 13.5 million as listing records attest.

Grandeur and elegance: Eleanor Roosevelt’s former home. Photo: Will Ellis/DDreps

The 5,225-square-foot five-storey townhouse – where the former 32nd American President resided – consists of a red-brick facade and two entrances—residential and service—flanked by classic stone columns. Central to the home are its distinct different living quarters for private family sessions, for guests to stay, staff to work and live in, etc. The home is adorned with decorative medallions and moldings, wood-panelled walls, and arched doorways.

The impeccable wood detailing. Photo: Will Ellis/DDreps

There are four bedrooms with en suite amenities; in addition, there are six wood-burning fireplaces. Denizens can access every floor via numerous winding wooden staircases that connect the floors or have a go wtih the six-stop elevator for a breezier access route to rooms and quarters.

As with all First Ladies and their Presidents, entertaining is a must, therefore, the first two floors are dedicated to that sort of activity. A posh reception gallery connotes opulence and it is fitted with Eksel wallpaper, a restored Victorian ceiling, marble floors, a central fireplace, and stained glass arched French doors that lead one to a generous garden with a gurgling stone fountain. The parlor level features a formal dining room with a fireplace, a study, and an eat-in kitchen with stained glass windows, as well as a second living room that opens out onto an outdoor terrace with a wrought-iron balcony.

The third and fourth floors are dominated not by one, but two full-floor master suites with their own wet bars, fireplaces, and of course, luxe bathrooms featuring classic claw-footed tubs and ample room for changing or the like.

The amazing backyard! Photo: Will Ellis/DDreps

A separate staircase connects the lower floors to the higher fourth and fifth floors, where there are two additional bedrooms with built-ins and cosy fireplaces for extra ambience. The spacious rooftop deck offers up enviable views of the city, while the basement level has its own separate bath and laundry area. Read about how Obama enjoys a getaway.

Spacious bedrooms with historic detailing. Photo: Will Ellis/DDreps

The massive home was last sold in 2011 to a limited liability company for USD 9.5 million; 6sqft.com explains that nearly USD 2 million was spent on renovations shortly afterward. The owners would go on to list the home in 2015, initially with an asking price of USD 18 million. Prior to its recent listing, the townhouse was last on the market back in 2017, for USD 13.9 million. In addition to hosting many luminaries, including Indira Gandhi, Adlai Stevenson, and John F. Kennedy, at the home, Roosevelt also penned her popular column for “My Day” within its four walls.

For more information on the listing: www.stribling.com/properties/20755707