Joseph Raphael De Lamar House

The Joseph Raphael De Lamar House stands as an imposing example of Beaux Arts architecture in a neighborhood that was once defined by more restrained brownstone homes. Built between 1902 and 1905 for a man who made his fortune in the Colorado Gold Rush, the mansion was designed to be a show-stopper that could help its owner break into the rigid circles of New York high society. The architect, Charles Pierrepont Henry Gilbert, gave the building a massive granite facade and a steeply pitched mansard roof that earned the title of the most formidable in the city. When you look up at the roofline, you can see the intricate copper cresting and shell motifs that solidify its status as one of the most ornate residences to ever grace Murray Hill.