Skip to main content

RSS CLASSES

The Vanderbilts: One of America's Most Powerful Families (ONLINE)

Thursday, February 10, 2022
5:30 pm7:00 pm

We will not be accepting registrations after 5 PM on Tuesday,

Hosted by NY Adventure Club

The Vanderbilt Family was perhaps the most fascinating of New York’s Gilded Age families of the 19th century — after all, their vast wealth; penchant for erecting monumental town houses and country estates; and early struggle to become accepted in the highest levels of Manhattan and Newport societies combine to tell a captivating saga of a social dynasty. This is the story of one of the most powerful and iconic families in American history, and the incredible Gilded Age estates built in their name.

This is a deep dive into the Vanderbilt family, one of the most prominent families of 18th- and 19th-century America that originally made their fortune in the shipping and railroad industries.
Led by historian Tom Miller, our virtual exploration of the Vanderbilts and their magnificent properties will include:
• An overview of the family's early history, and how a penniless Cornelius Vanderbilt I would eventually earn unimaginable wealth
• A close look at the architectural masterpieces built by Cornelius' grandchildren, including the Biltmore Estate, Newport estates (such as Marble House and The Breakers), and Fifth Avenue mansions
• Stories surrounding Vanderbilt feuds, social triumphs, and public scandals
• Rare historic and modern photographs of many of these iconic Gilded Age estates throughout the country, inside and out
Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Tom — any and all questions about the Vanderbilts are welcomed and encouraged!

Close