Henry Clay Frick House

Henry Clay Frick House
The main facade on Fifth Avenue
Alternative names	Frick House, Frick Collection
General information
Type	Mansion
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts
Address	1 East 70th Street
Town or city	New York, NY 10021
Country	United States
Coordinates	40°46′17″N 73°58′02″W / 40.7713°N 73.9673°W / 40.7713; -73.9673
Current tenants	Frick Collection
Construction started	1912
Completed	1914
Technical details
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Thomas Hastings
Henry Clay Frick House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
New York State Register of Historic Places
New York City Landmark No. 0667
Location in New York City Show map of New York City Henry Clay Frick House (New York) Show map of New York Henry Clay Frick House (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates	40°46′17″N 73°58′02″W / 40.7713°N 73.9673°W / 40.7713; -73.9673
Area	1.26 acres (0.51 ha)
Part of	Upper East Side Historic District (ID84002803)
NRHP reference No.	08001091
NYSRHP No.	06101.000813
NYCL No.	0667
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 6, 2008[2]
Designated NHL	October 6, 2008[3]
Designated CP	September 7, 1984
Designated NYCL	March 20, 1973[1]

The Henry Clay Frick House (also known as the Frick Collection building or 1 East 70th Street) is a mansion and museum building on Fifth Avenue, between 70th and 71st streets, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. Designed by Thomas Hastings as the residence of the industrialist Henry Clay Frick, the house contains the Frick Collection museum and the Frick Art Reference Library. The house and library building are designated as a New York City landmark and National Historic Landmark.

The three-story house is separated from Fifth Avenue by an elevated garden. It is composed of three wings to the north, center, and south, which are arranged in an L shape. The limestone facade contains several carved pediments and tympana. Most of the house remained essentially unchanged from the time of its construction until 1931. The first floor contained the family's communal rooms; the second floor contained their bedrooms and private rooms; and the third floor contained the servants' quarters. There was also a basement with service areas. The first and second-floor rooms have been adapted into museum spaces over the years.

Frick bought the site of the Lenox Library in 1906 and 1907 but could not redevelop it for several years. Initially, Frick sought designs from Daniel Burnham, but ultimately he commissioned Hastings, who designed a three-story mansion in the Beaux-Arts style. Construction took place between 1912 and 1914. Frick lived in the building only until his death in 1919, but his wife Adelaide and daughter Helen continued to live there until Adelaide died in 1931. Following a renovation, and in accordance with Frick's will, the house opened to the public as the Frick Collection in 1935. The building was enlarged slightly in 1977 and 2011, which has altered the original appearance of the house. From 2020 to 2024, the house was closed for an extensive renovation that expanded the museum. Over the years, the mansion has received generally positive architectural commentary.