As part of our special America’s Kitchens week, I thought I’d try seeking out some different content – images of some historic kitchens off the beaten path. This is the west side New York City apartment kitchen of Matthew A. Henson — the first known person to reach the North pole on April 6, 1909. A black explorer, Henson was the trailblazer for the arctic expedition led by Robert E. Peary. Henson lived in this apartment from 1929-1955. What a wonderful kitchen, and piece of history. The image was captured as part the U.S. Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) and is in the permanent collection of the Library of Congress. (Details: Survey number HABS NY-5697-A, National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 75001207)
Dave makes a George Nelson-style platform bench using Matthew Burak legs 
Is it a room divider? Is it a pole lamp? Is it a display shelf? Yes! 
Vintage Stiffel pole lamp, fab Goldworm maxi dress & more MIB madness 
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That’s Robert E. Peary
. And Henson’s wife, Lucy, lived there as well – she died in 1968. Which may explain many touches that strike me as more 60s than 50s – the wallpaper, the wood-grain formica table, what I think is a big floral pattern vinyl on the chair, and that clunky can-opener on the shelf. (I had one of those can-openers, so I speak from experience – and they *were* clunky.)
Love the Corningware
Thank you, Eucritta, for the correction and for the additional detail on Lucy!
I *think* that might be my Corningware pattern – cornflower blue! Such a tiny, cozy kitchen.
SMall and neat!