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George Washington's Former WaHi Headquarters Starts Crowd-Funding Campaign

By Nigel Chiwaya | October 17, 2013 4:08pm
Morris Jumel Mansion Indiegogo Campaign
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Morris-Jumel Mansion

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Northern Manhattan's oldest home is turning to the Internet for its latest fundraising effort. 

The Morris Jumel Mansion has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $40,000 for exterior repairs to the 248-year-old building at 65 Jumel Terrace, which served as George Washington's headquarters during a Revolutionary War battle and is now a museum.

"The house is the main object in the museum," said mansion director Carol Ward. "We want to make sure we're taking care of everything inside the mansion, of course, but the main selling point is the house itself."

The mansion's online campaign went live Sunday and features 4-minute video with a cameo by uptown musician and playwright Lin Manuel Miranda.

The campaign's goal — $40,000 in 40 days — is similar to a successful campaign run earlier this year by the United Palace of Cultural Arts, which raised $40,000 to restore film service to the former movie theater. Ward said UPCA program manager Mike Fitelson helped her with the Morris Jumel Mansion campaign and even connected her with the director who filmed UPCA's Indiegogo video.

"He was a ginormous help," Ward said.

Donations will help restore the museum's exterior woodworking, as well as replace aging shingles and panels and do a complete paint job.

To entice donors, the mansion is giving away a slew of perks, including a yearlong membership to the museum for those who give $10, a family membership for $50 and a private tour with a contemporary artist for $250.

The museum's campaign will run until Nov. 21. For more information on the mansion, visit morrisjumel.org.