Chelsea Apartment Where 'The Night Before Christmas' Was Written Is on the Market

The author of the most classic Christmas tale, "The Night Before Christmas," wrote that very tale in this Chelsea townhouse that's on the market for $8.65 million. Clement Clarke Moore owned the property in 1822 when he wrote it. You can picture him in 348 W. 22nd St. writing these famous words:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

Moore owned a large estate on 23rd Street and Ninth Avenue, including his home at 348 W. 22nd St., which he sold in 1835. Six years after that, the townhouse that's for sale today was built. Moore's estate, called the Chelsea Estate, eventually became the neighborhood of Chelsea.

"It is rare to find a property with such pedigree and history," said Matthew Lesser, partner at Leslie J. Garfield, the agency that listed the townhouse.

Moore was "inspired by the property's prowess and character" when he wrote the famous tale, according to the property listing's press release from Garfield.

The house still has some of its original Greek-revival details from when it was built in the 1840s, like style plaster mouldings and medallions, four marble fireplaces and inlaid parquet wood flooring, the press release said.

Image by Leslie J. Garfield