Ralph Johnson Bunche House facts for kids
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Ralph Johnson Bunche House
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| Location | 115-24 Grosvenor Road, Kew Gardens, Queens, NY |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Koch & Wagner |
| Architectural style | English Tudor Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001266 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
The Ralph Johnson Bunche House was the last home of an important American diplomat named Ralph Bunche. He lived here from 1952 until he passed away in 1971. This house is a special place called a National Historic Landmark in New York City.
The house was built in 1927. It is a single-family home designed in the neo-Tudor style. You can find it at 115-24 Grosvenor Road in Kew Gardens, Queens. Ralph Bunche was famous for helping to create the United Nations in 1945. In 1950, he made history. He became the first African American and the first person of color to win the famous Nobel Peace Prize. He won it for helping to make peace agreements between Israel and its neighboring countries.
The History of the Bunche House
The Ralph Johnson Bunche House was built in 1927. It was part of a new neighborhood being developed in Kew Gardens. Before Ralph Bunche bought it, the land and house changed owners a few times.
In the 1950s, before moving to this house, Ralph Bunche lived in a place called Parkway Village. This was an apartment complex in Kew Gardens Hills. It was built for people who worked at the United Nations. Parkway Village was special because it was one of the first places in the country where people of different races could live together. This was called being "racially integrated."
In 1952, Ralph Bunche and his wife bought the house on Grosvenor Road. They were raising three children at the time. They used the money Ralph Bunche received from his Nobel Peace Prize to buy their new home. Ralph Bunche lived in the house until he died in 1971. His wife continued to live there until she passed away in 1988.
What the House Looks Like
The Ralph Johnson Bunche House is built in a style called neo-Tudor. This style looks a bit like old English houses. The famous architects Koch & Wagner designed it.
The house has 2 1/2 stories. Its outside walls are covered in stucco, with some bricks and stones mixed in. The house still has its original wooden doors with iron decorations. The windows have their original leaded glass, and the roof is made of slate.
The house is in a quiet neighborhood with other single-family homes. It's surrounded by tall trees and bushes. The house sits on top of a small hill. A stone walkway leads from the street up to the front door.
The front of the house has a central section that sticks out. It has a special roof shape. The main entrance is inside this section. It has a round, stone-framed opening with a wooden door. Next to the door, there's an original iron and glass light fixture. Above the doorway, there's a small window. To the side of the entrance, there's a large, tall window with leaded glass. This window has a colorful stained glass picture of a knight on a horse at the bottom. A small iron balcony is in front of this window. Near the top of the house, there are two small windows surrounded by wooden beams.
On one side of the house, there's a chimney covered in stucco. On the other side, there's a sun room. This room has stone walls and large windows that go from the floor to the ceiling.
Special Landmark Status
The Ralph Johnson Bunche House is recognized as a very important historical place.
- In 1976, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place of national importance.
- It is also a New York City landmark. This protects it as an important part of the city's history.
