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Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site Hyde Park, New York

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Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site Hyde Park, New York National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site Hyde Park, New York VANDERBILT MANSION A GILDED-AGE COUNTRY PLACE VANDERBILT MANSION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE HISTORIC RESOURCE STUDY Vanderbilt Mansion, 1898. Wurts Brothers Photographers, Vanderbilt Mansion Photograph Collection, Roosevelt- Vanderbilt National Historic Site Archives, Hyde Park, NY (VAMA 208). Vanderbilt Mansion, 1898. Wurts Brothers Photographers, Vanderbilt Mansion Photograph Collection, Roosevelt- Vanderbilt National Historic Site Archives, Hyde Park, NY (VAMA 208). VANDERBILT MANSION A GILDED-AGE COUNTRY PLACE A Historic Resource Study by Peggy Albee Molly Berger H. Eliot Foulds Nina Gray Pamela Herrick National Park Service Northeast Museum Services Center Boston, Massachusetts Printed 2008 Cover illustration: Vanderbilt Mansion, 1898. Wurts Brothers Photographers, Vanderbilt Mansion Photograph Collection, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site Archives, Hyde Park, NY (VAMA 208). This report was completed in 2000, but not edited and formatted for printing until 2008. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Illustrations .......................................................................................................................................... ix List of Diagrams and Tables.......................................................................................................................... xi Foreword ......................................................................................................................................................... xiii Preface............................................................................................................................................................... xv Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................... xix Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................... xxi Architecture of the Mansion................................................................................................................... xxi Furnished Interiors .................................................................................................................................. xxi Service Areas ............................................................................................................................................. xxi Mechanical Systems ................................................................................................................................xxii Landscape Architecture..........................................................................................................................xxii Significance of the Estate........................................................................................................................xxii Introduction................................................................................................................................................... xxv Chapter One: The Gilded Age and Country Places ...................................................................................1 Historiographic Essay by Molly Berger.....................................................................................................1 Material Culture Historiography by Nina Gray.................................................................................... 11 Gilded-age Estates by Style and Type: The House Forms of Gilded-Age Residences by Nina Gray and Pamela Herrick ................................................................................... 18 The Vanderbilts' Hyde Park.......................................................................................................... 22 Architects and Decorators............................................................................................................. 26 The Vanderbilt Family as Clients and Patrons by Nina Gray.............................................................. 27 Townhouses .................................................................................................................................... 28 Seaside Cottages.............................................................................................................................. 31 Vacation Houses ............................................................................................................................. 33 Country Places ................................................................................................................................ 34 Management of Gilded-Age Estates by Pamela Herrick...................................................................... 38 Chapter Two: Historical Overview by Pamela Herrick......................................................................... 43 Evolution of the Estate, 1764-Present..................................................................................................... 43 Description of Historical Occupancy 1895-Present............................................................................. 45 Frederick W. Vanderbilt (1856-1938) ............................................................................................. 45 Louis Holmes Anthony Torrance Vanderbilt (1844-1926) .......................................................... 50 The Vanderbilts' Seasonal Residency at Hyde Park...................................................................... 54 Entertaining at Hyde Park................................................................................................................. 59 Managing the Estate Departments of Hyde Park........................................................................... 63 The Estate Superintendent ........................................................................................................ 63 The Farm............................................................................................................................... 65 Dairy Barn...................................................................................................................... 66 Horse Barn..................................................................................................................... 67 Farm Gang ..................................................................................................................... 68 Poultry House................................................................................................................ 69 Vegetable Garden and Orchard.................................................................................. 69 Park ........................................................................................................................................ 69 iii Gardens and Greenhouses.................................................................................................. 70 Coach House ................................................................................................................. 72 Paint Shop, Carpenter Shop, Blacksmith Shop......................................................... 72 Management of the Household Staff........................................................................................ 72 Butler...................................................................................................................................... 74 Second and Third Men ................................................................................................ 74 Day and Night Men ...................................................................................................... 75 Parlor Maid.................................................................................................................... 76 Chef........................................................................................................................................ 76 First and Second Cooks ............................................................................................... 76 Kitchen Maid................................................................................................................. 77 Housekeeper......................................................................................................................... 77 First, Second, Third, and Fourth Chamber Maids ................................................... 78 Three Laundry Women................................................................................................ 78 The Vanderbilts' Personal Staff.......................................................................................... 78 Secretary......................................................................................................................... 78 Personal Maid................................................................................................................ 78 Valet................................................................................................................................ 79 The Staff's View of Estate Work ............................................................................................... 79 Employees' Leisure on the Estate..................................................................................................... 82 World War II Use of the Vanderbilt Mansion...............................................................................
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