These Are the 10 Best Gilded Age Mansions in the U.S.
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HBO's The Gilded Age has ushered in a resurgence of interest in the time period the series is named after—which took place from approximately the 1870s to 1900—meaning now is a perfect time to pay a visit to one of the many Gilded Age mansions across the country.
Whether you're in the mood to visit an especially grand house, like Biltmore Estate, or one with acres upon acres of impeccable landscaping, such as the Nemours Estate—we have plenty of options for you to choose from. Below, find House Beautiful's ranking of the top 10 best Gilded Age mansions in the United States—and don't forget to pack your most fanciful outfit!
10. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, Lenox, Massachusetts
Built between 1891 and 1893, the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum is a Jacobean Revival gem that was designed by Rotch & Tilden for George and Sarah Morgan—the latter of whom who was J. P. Morgan's sister.
9. Carson Mansion, Eureka, California
Built by Samuel Newsom and Joseph Cather Newsom, the Carson Mansion is a grandiose Queen Anne-style abode that was built between 1884 and 1886.
8. Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Hyde Park, New York
Run by the National Park Service, the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site is a work of Beaux-Arts architecture, designed by celebrated firm McKim, Mead & White. It was built between 1896 and 1899.
7. Westbury House, Old Westbury, New York
Situated on 100 acres, Westbury House is part of Old Westbury Gardens, the former estate of businessman John Shaffer Phipps. The dwelling was built by George A. Crawley in the Carolean Revival style of architecture.
6. Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, Norwalk, Connecticut
Known as the very first Gilded Age mansion, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion was built between 1864 and 1868. It features a mix of architectural styles, including Queen Anne and Gothic Revival.
5. Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, Florida
The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum—also known as Whitehall—is a neoclassical Beaux Arts structure located in Palm Beach. It boasts 75 rooms in total, across 100,00 square feet.
4. The Mount, Lenox, Massachusetts
Edith Wharton's Berkshires home, the Mount, welcomes more than 50,000 visitors every year. It was designed by Francis L.V. Hoppin and Ogden Codman, Jr., the latter of whom co-authored Wharton's first book, The Decoration of Houses.
3. Nemours Estate, Wilmington, Delaware
Situated on 200 acres of land, the Nemours Estate is a French neoclassical-style gem. It boasts 105 rooms across four floors and nearly 47,000 square feet.
2. The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island
The Breakers, which is the only dwelling on this list to actually appear in The Gilded Age, was built between 1893 and 1895 for Cornelius Vanderbilt II. It's a Neo Italian Renaissance-style mansion by Richard Morris Hunt.
1. Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Featuring landscaping by Frederick Law Olmsted, Biltmore Estate—which was also designed by Hunt—is undoubtedly the most grand Gilded Age mansion of them all. It's also the largest privately owned house in the United States. We suggest paying a visit at Christmastime for a firsthand look at the most opulent holiday decorations you've ever seen.
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