Mansion National Historic Site National Park Service Vanderbilt Mansion U.S. Department of the Interior Hyde Park East facade of clock Dasson annular A CountryPlaceintheGildedAge Vanderbilts, who flaunted their wealth viewed nouveau riche families like the appearance. Established millionaires superficial layer goldof to improve its the process gilding of anobject with a A TaleAge: of Today. The term refers to Warner in their 1873 book, Mark Twain and Charles Dudley The term ‘Gilded Age’ was coined by poverty line. US was around $380,well below the while the average annual income in the others amassed unimaginable wealth, Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and lius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. industry,Captains of men like Corne- industry, technology, and immigration. was unparalleled atime of growth in the Civil War to the the turnof century, The Gilded Age, the period following The VanderbiltsinAmerica:ARisetoWealth and first wife Sophia. children and first son, born to Cornelius 1821 the way for his own shipping business. against steamship monopolies, opening Thomas Gibbons and assists inlegal battle 1817 Island to . barge to start from aferry service Staten ents and buys first two-masted sailing 1810 to Cornelius and Phebe Hand Vanderbilt. bilt born on , New York City, 1794 America. Vanderbilt ancestor known to reside in 1650 William Henry Vanderbilt, one 13 of Cornelius captains asteamship for Cornelius borrows $100from par Cornelius “Commodore” Vander Jan Aertsen Van Bilt Der isthe first

entrance (above) . Guests were greeted atthebeautiful front ofHudsonRiverfromView HydePark(left). The Gilded 1873 novel byTwain and Warner (right).

- - the family money. entertained lavishly, largely depleting mansions and country estates, and self-indulgence. They built 40 opulent lived lives excess, of extravagance, and in just eight years, but his eight children tions, doubling the Vanderbilt fortune William expanded the railroad opera his eldest son William. tune and leftthe his money bulk of to parents into amulti-million dollar for He turned a 100-dollar loan from his become ashipping and railroad tycoon. (1794–1877) rose from poverty to Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt gilded—all show, nosubstance. money to buy social prominence, as ing extravagant balls, and using their by building ostentatious homes, throw the Northeast and Midwest. Acquires and consolidates rail lines in Receives Congressional Gold Medal. donates steamship to the Union Navy. 1861–65 William and Maria. 1856 He gains national prominence. tation from New York to SanFrancisco. pany provides shorter, cheaper transpor 1851 have eight children. 1841 empire, beginsrailroad management. 1830s–40s MATTHEW GARRET Frederick, sixth child, isborn to Cornelius’Accessory TransitCom- William marries Maria Kissam. They During the Civil War Cornelius Cornelius expands shipping - - -

- families who had fallen on hard times. were bought inEurope from wealthy ing. Many the of mansion’s contents station, and extensive landscap- Creek, boat docks, arailroad new bridges over CrumElbow er station, gate houses, two Pavilion, acoach house, pow plumbing. They added the tral heating, and indoor innovations: electricity, cen- and incorporated the latest Beaux-Arts ornamentation in the neoclassical style with ture firm, designed the mansion & White, America’s top architec fall country estate. McKim, Mead Hyde Park to useastheir spring and ise, (1854–1926)pictured far right, bought below right, (1856–1938)and hiswife, Lou- In 1895William’s son Frederick, pictured $195 million to hiseight children. 1885 Anthony. SchoolScientific (Yale). Marries Louise 1878 lion, to great displeasure hissiblings. of most father’s of fortune, nearly $100mil- 1877 the largest train station inNorth America. onDepot 42nd Street, New York City, 1871 America. the most profitable large enterprises in increases efficiency, turning it intoof one Hudson Railroad. William slashes costs, companies, creating New York Central & 1870s home. how tomanageyour Households advised The 1903Millionaire William dies, leaving anestate of Frederick graduates from Sheffield Cornelius dies. William inherits Cornelius opensGrand Central Cornelius consolidates two core -

fatal crashin1902. banned inNewYork Cityfollowinga ca.1916) whensteamlocomotiveswere electric GrandCentralTerminal (above, The Vanderbilts constructedtheall– LIBRARY OFCONGRESS

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Historic Site established. 1940 estate to niece Margaret Louise Van Alen. 1938 1926 site. Design insures trains are notdelayed. nal (GCT)isbuilt insections on Depot 1904–13 and becomes Grand Central Station. 1899 Hyde Park estate. 1895 Frederick dies, leaves Hyde Park Vanderbilt Mansion National Louise dies. Grand Central isenlarged Depot Frederick and Louise purchase around $2,250,000. Furnishings and construction costs totaled The new Grand Central Termi- servants’ quarters. Hyde Park was inmany ways self- the firststeeland concrete bridgesintheUS. Constructed in1897 theWhiteBridgewasoneof community and lived in the sustaining, providing food and laborers were hired from the flowers for the family’s needs sion with the family. Seasonal here and at their other bilts and lived inthe man- homes. When the Vander traveled with the Vander bilts were in residence, as sive farm. Personal staff many as60staff worked to the grounds and exten- the property and attended here. lived Staff on or near - -

income tax (1913),World War I (1914), flourished in the 1890s—until the Gilded Age estates like this over $1.2billion today. estate totaled $76million, til hisdeath in1938.His recting 22railroads un- active inbusiness, di- years hislife. of He was estate for the last 12 and returned to this ick sold hisother houses ise died in1926,Freder and dancing. When Lou- followed by formal dinners golf, tennis, and swimming parties with horseback riding, entertain, throwing lavish weekend social occasions, but Louise loved to Frederick, aquiet man, preferred to avoid The reflecting poolisa focal pointoftheformalgardens. ALL PHOTOSNPSUNLESSNOTED LIBRARY OFCONGRESS designed HydePark. Charles F. McKim,architect,

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SHELBURNE FARMS ARCHIVES © RICHARDCHEEK to includeagarage. housed carriages andstables,wasconverted In 1910theCoach House,whichoriginally upkeep all but impossible. and Great Depression time the Vanderbilts lived here. remain virtually unchanged from the The couple had no children and left operation, restores it to 1913splendor. 1994 and isdissolved by the courts. 1970 Central. Pennsylvania Railroad to form Penn 1968 landmark, saving it from demolition. 1967 1950s American population. GCT, equivalent to 40percent the of 1949 MATTHEW GARRET ofHudsonRiver View

The lavish mansion and its contents the Hyde Park mansion to Louise’s tion and remain inprivate hands. niece, Margaret Louise Van Alen, lands were the of dona notpart who tried to sell the estate but Metro-North takes over GST Penn Central files for bankruptcy New York Central merges with GCT designated New York City 65 million passengers pass through to the public in1940. The farm- found no buyers. Her neigh- Glory days rail of travel end. National Historic Site opened bor, President Franklin D. and the Vanderbilt Mansion Roosevelt, suggested she do- to the Gilded Age. She agreed Park asamonument Service nate the estate to the National (1930s) made their - NEARBY ATTRACTIONS To Rhinebeck To Rhinebeck Bard 0 1 Kilometer (see map at left) Rock 0 1 Mile Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt Visitor Center North To Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site National Historic Site Overlook and Eleanor Roosevelt HUDSON RIVER Bard Rock

R National Historic Site

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V I Crum t St Elbow R Franklin D. Roosevelt R arke d East M

H Presidential Library and Museum

Pavilion y Hyde Park

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Taconic State Parkway N Vanderbilt P

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i Home of l H Franklin D. Roosevelt Eleanor National Historic Site Roosevelt National Wallace Haviland Historic Site Center

FDR Presidential Library and Museum

Springwood (Home of FDR) Top 40A Cottage

To Poughkeepsie and 84 To Poughkeepsie

Gingko Tree

Tool House A LEGACY OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN

The estate’s landscape was first developed by cottage, tool house, and garden walls. These Dr. Samuel Bard, who died here in 1821. In structures, the only ones to pre-date Vander- Gardener’s the European picturesque style, he planted bilt ownership, still exist. Vanderbilt rede- Cottage exotic plants and probably the ginkgo tree, signed the formal gardens and planted hun- one of the continent’s oldest, dating to 1799. dreds of trees and shrubs. On weekends Bard’s son William sold the estate to his Frederick and Louise liked to walk through

Site of Greenhouses father’s medical partner Dr. David Hosack, the gardens twice a day. Today the landscape, who built the first formal gardens and green- restored to its 1930s appearance, encompass- houses. After his death the estate was broken es five acres of tiered gardens, gravel paths, up. Later Walter Langdon, Jr. reunited the shady arbors, ornate statues, and bubbling estate, laid out formal gardens, and hired fountains. Boston architects to design a gardener’s MAP ART BY POWER ENGINEERS FORMAL GARDENS

White Bridge

R E E K W C L B O E U M C R

ENTRANCE

D A O R WELCOME TO HYDE PARK, one For INFORMATION on visiting MORE INFORMATION OUR PARTNERS

of the area’s oldest Hudson River hours, fees, and tour times, call or Vanderbilt Mansion Roosevelt-Vanderbilt T S country estates and a superb visit our website. National Historic Site Historical Association O P example of 200 years of land- 4097 Albany Post Road rooseveltvanderbilt.org

To scape design. The National Park ACCESSIBILITY Hyde Park, NY 12538 Y Coach House Service preserves over 200 acres We strive to make our facilities, 845-229-7770 Frederick W. Vanderbilt N and A of the original property. Explore services, and programs accessible www.nps.gov/vama Garden Association B Lower Gate House L the manicured landscapes, wood- to all. For information go to the vanderbiltgarden.org A Main Gate House lands, and formal gardens. Take visitor center, ask a ranger, call, Power House This is one of over 400 parks in a guided tour of the Vanderbilt or check our website. the National­ Park System. To country home (fee). Glimpse the learn more about national parks world of the American elite, their SAFETY and National Park Service pro- 9 staff, and their relationship to the Caution, stay on trails in woods grams in America’s communities, ✩GPO:20xx—xxx-xxx/xxxxx New in 20xx Hyde Park community. to avoid poison ivy and ticks. visit www.nps.gov. Printed on recycled paper. Vanderbilt Estate