Chester A. Arthur historical plaque.

President Arthur Inaugurated and Died Here

George Washington took his oath of office as President in New York City; the event was celebrated with a heroic statue. Chester A. Arthur took his oath of office as President in New York City; the event was marked with a tiny plaque.

For Arthur, the oath-taking occurred at his Manhattan townhouse on Sep. 20, 1881, "upon the death of President James A. Garfield, killed by a disgruntled office seeker," according to the plaque.

Arthur returned to his Manhattan home after his one term as President, his own health failing, and died here on Nov. 18, 1886, in the same house where his wife had died only six years earlier. Those facts are not mentioned on the plaque, perhaps to avoid spooking any future tenants.

Roadside Presidents App for iPhone. Find this attraction and more: museums, birthplaces, graves of the Chief Execs, first ladies, pets, assassins and wannabes. Prez bios and oddball trivia. Available on the App Store.

President Arthur Inaugurated and Died Here

Address:: 123 Lexington Ave., New York, NY
Directions:: Midtown Manhattan. On the east side of Lexington Ave., the third brownstone north of E. 28th St. The tiny plaque, behind hazy glass, can be seen just to the right of the entrance to #123, and just to the left of an outdoor ATM.
Admission:: Free
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

Nearby Offbeat Places

Overlooked Memorial to the Holocaust, New York, NY - < 1 mi.

The Right Light, New York, NY - < 1 mi.

Mexican War Hero Buried Here, New York, NY - < 1 mi.

In the region:

Death Rock of Alexander Hamilton, Weehawken, NJ - 3 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in New York

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.