Blackwell House, Roosevelt Island
historic place
Blackwell House stands on Roosevelt Island in New York City. This historic place was built for James Blackwell between 1796 and 1804. It is the only surviving building on Roosevelt Island that dates from the period when the island was privately owned. The Blackwell family owned and farmed the island from the late 17th century until 1828. In 1828, the family sold the island to the City of New York. After this sale, the island became known for its institutional development. Blackwell House then served as residential quarters for various administrators, including the warden of the island's Almshouse. By the late 1960s, the house had fallen into disrepair. Architect Giorgio Cavaglieri led a restoration completed in 1973. The house was designated a New York City Landmark in 1975 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Blackwell House remains a significant example of late 18th-century architecture and represents Roosevelt Island's transition from private farmland to a municipal institution.