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The Luxembourg House on Beekman Place Three Portraits in Time
Seventeen Beekman Place is one of the most prestigious addresses in New York, and one of the last stately residences built in Manhattan.
Nestled in an elegant enclave overlooking the East River, the imposing townhouse played a storied role in American history, and now houses the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg’s representatives in the heart of the city.
Designed by architect Harold Sterner and completed in 1932, the residence was commissioned by young Wall Street banker James V. Forrestal on the brink of the Great Depression. Forrestal lived there for eight years before moving to Washington, D.C., to begin a distinguished government career that would lead to his appointment as the first U.S. Secretary of Defense.
In 1946, the celebrated songwriter Irving Berlin—whose all-time greatest hit, Annie Get Your Gun, was playing on Broadway at the time—purchased 17 Beekman Place. He lived there for more than four decades, until his death in 1989.
In 1990, the Luxembourg government acquired the house, transforming it into a unique venue for diplomatic initiatives, economic endeavors, tourism promotion, and cultural events.
The Luxembourg House on Beekman Place brings to life the story of this remarkable residence in three intimate portraits of its prominent inhabitants—their lives, work, and experiences in this special setting.
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“The Luxembourg House on Beekman Place – Three Portraits in Time” is available on Amazon.com
