10. Luxembourg House was the home of a former Secretary of Defense and a famous composer
Located at 17 Beekman Place, Luxembourg House is now the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the UN. Prior to Luxembourg taking over the building, the mansion was home to a few famous historical figures. Located at the corner of East 50th Street, the building was constructed in 1932 next to Vanderbilt and Morgan mansions. Harold Sterner designed it for James Forrestal, the first U.S. Secretary of Defense. Forrestal was also the last Cabinet-level U.S. Secretary of the Navy under FDR and Truman.
The home was later owned by Irving Berlin and his wife Ellin Mackay. Berlin was known for hits including “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “White Christmas,” while his wife wrote short stories for the Saturday Evening Post and The New Yorker. Ultimately, Luxembourg purchased the home in 1990 and now hosts many international relations and cultural activities. The home, which faces the East River, includes a white marble base and three stories of red brick.