the opulence!
Take A Look Inside A Historic 54-Room Gilded Age Mansion That Belonged To One Of America's Richest Families
During the Gilded Age in the late 1800s, railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt was the richest man in America with a net worth of $100 million, or around $200 billion today — more money than the US Treasury had at the time.
After Cornelius' death in 1937, his son William Vanderbilt took over the businesses and doubled his father's fortune. He died the wealthiest private individual in the world in 1885.
William's son, Frederick Vanderbilt, and his wife, Louise, purchased a 153-acre Hyde Park property in 1895. Construction on the mansion began in 1895 and was finished three years later.
The mansion and its grounds are now owned by the National Park Service, which offers tours of the property. Business Insider's correspondent Talia Lakritz visited the Vanderbilt mansion in February 2023 to see its opulent rooms for myself.
[The welcome center. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider]
Lakritz bought a tour ticket at the Pavilion Visitor Center, which once served as a guest house.
The only way to see inside the mansion is through a guided tour with a park ranger.
The hourlong tours cost $15 per person and are offered daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. There are no reservations — tickets are sold at the visitor center on a first-come, first-serve basis.
[The Vanderbilt mansion. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider]
The tour began outside the Vanderbilt Mansion, where the park-ranger guide told the group about the construction of the 45,000-square-foot home.
The building was designed by architects McKim, Mead & White and built by Norcross Brothers. The exterior is made of Indiana limestone.
The Vanderbilts used the home as a seasonal escape in the spring and fall. It has six floors and a total of 54 rooms, according to the National Park Service.
[The ground floor in the Vanderbilt mansion. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider]
The group then walked through the front door into an opulent entrance hall.
The oval-shaped entrance hall was furnished with green marble imported from Italy.
[Frederick Vanderbilt's office. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider]
Frederick used his office to manage the affairs of the Hyde Park estate. The office contained a private bathroom that led into his den.
[The dining room in the Vanderbilt mansion. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider]
The dining room sat 18 people, which is believed to be the largest gathering the Vanderbilts hosted at Hyde Park.
The Vanderbilts hosted their first housewarming dinner party in May 1899, and only entertained about once per season.
[A parlor in the Vanderbilt mansion. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider]
After dinner parties, guests would enjoy coffee and games of charades in the formal living room.
Decorated with antique Renaissance furniture, the living room featured Circassian walnut panels on the walls.
[A French salon in the Vanderbilt mansion. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider]
The ground floor also included an 18th-century-style French salon where Louise would occasionally have tea with guests or spend time alone.
Frederick and Louise had a permanent residence in Paris, which inspired the Louis XIV-style decor.
Vanderbilt butler Alfred Martin told the National Park Service that when the door to the salon was closed, "that was a sure indication that Mrs. Vanderbilt did not want to be disturbed."
To see more photos of the Vanderbilt mansion, head to Business Insider.
