Raoul Wallenberg Forest

Palisade Av, Douglas Av bet. W 235 St and

Bronx

Directions via Google Maps

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

What was here before?
This was the site of a rambling brick mansion erected in 1890 on a grassy hillside estate overlooking the Hudson River. It was built by world-renowned copper mining engineer and businessman, James Douglas (1837–1918). His daughter Elizabeth lived there until 1944.

In 1961 the United Nations rented the mansion for Burmese Diplomat and third Secretary-General U Thant (1909–1974) and his extended family. Thant was instrumental in defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis and in ending the civil war in the Congo. At his Spuyten Duyvil home, he conducted important UN business and entertained many domestic and foreign dignitaries. He lived in this home with his family until 1971. The mansion burned down and was demolished in 1974.

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