History and architecture
The grandeur of the "Belle Epoque'' is reflected in this palatial residence built between 1902 and 1905 for steel manufacturer James A. Burden, Jr., and his wife, the former Florence Adele Sloane, a granddaughter of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt.
This superb mansion was designed by the noted architectural firm of Warren & Wetmore, who were also responsible for such well-known structures as Grand Central Terminal and the adjoining Biltmore Hotel. Whitney Warren, the noted architect, designed the Burden House with detail reminiscent of his training in Paris.
The Burden House, with its great ballroom windows, is the finest Beaux-Arts town house in the City.
In 1898, Andrew Carnegie purchased several parcels of land -for investment purposes, including that upon which the Burden House is now located. These plots were all situated near the proposed site of the Carnegie Mansion, which was begun in 1899.
The Burden House and the Otto Kahn House at No. 1 East 91st Street, both of which are opposite the Carnegie Mansion, are today owned and operated by The Academy of the Sacred Heart, a private school for girls.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.