While Europe is known for palaces and castles, it’s true there are no shortage of equally luxurious mansions and palaces in the USA. One family stands above all when it came to conspicuous consumption, especially where building mansions is concerned, and that’s the Vanderbilts. The heirs of the fortune’s founder, Cornelius Vanderbilt, spent lavishly on many homes. They are now historic monuments although sadly, some have been torn down. Here’s a list of 14 magnificent Vanderbilt mansions.
14. Vanderbilt Mansion – Hyde Park, New York
Built between 1896 and 1899, this 54-room Beaux-Arts mansion was the country estate of Frederick Vanderbilt, grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. The 44,000-square-foot mansion sits on 211 acres overlooking the Hudson River. Designed by the renowned architecture firm McKim, Mead & White, the house features a grand entrance hall, Italian marble, gilded ceilings, and extensive gardens modeled after European palaces. Today, it is part of the National Park Service and is open to the public as the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.
13. The Breakers – Newport, Rhode Island
Perhaps the most famous of all Vanderbilt homes, The Breakers was built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II between 1893 and 1895. This 70-room mansion, designed by Richard Morris Hunt, sits on 13 acres of oceanfront property and spans an astonishing 125,000 square feet. Modeled after an Italian Renaissance palazzo, the house boasts gilded ceilings, marble columns, and hand-painted murals. The Breakers was the summer residence of the Vanderbilt family, and it epitomizes the extravagance of the Gilded Age. Today, it is owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County and is open to the public.
12. Biltmore Estate – Asheville, North Carolina
Built between 1889 and 1895 for George Washington Vanderbilt II, the Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned house in the United States, spanning 175,000 square feet with 250 rooms. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, this French château-inspired mansion sits on 8,000 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds by Frederick Law Olmsted. The estate features a grand banquet hall, an indoor swimming pool, a bowling alley, and extensive libraries. It remains in the Vanderbilt family but operates as a major tourist attraction and winery.
11. Marble House – Newport, Rhode Island
This is my favorite Vanderbilt mansion. Marble House was built between 1888 and 1892 for Alva Vanderbilt and her husband, William K. Vanderbilt. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, this opulent mansion is one of the most elaborate examples of Gilded Age architecture. It cost $11 million to construct, $7 million of which was spent on 500,000 cubic feet of marble. The house includes 50 rooms, an ornate gold ballroom, and a Chinese tea house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Marble House is now open to the public and managed by the Preservation Society of Newport County.
10. Rough Point – Newport, Rhode Island
Rough Point was built in 1891 for Frederick William Vanderbilt, another grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Designed by Peabody & Stearns in the English Manorial style, the 39,000-square-foot mansion sits on oceanfront cliffs and features grand rooms filled with antique furnishings, tapestries, and art. Later owned by heiress Doris Duke, the house remains a significant piece of Newport’s architectural heritage and is now a museum open to the public, managed by the Newport Restoration Foundation.
9. Eagle’s Nest – Centerport, New York
Eagle’s Nest was built in 1910 by William K. Vanderbilt II as a Spanish-Revival estate on the Long Island Sound. The 24-room mansion is part of a 43-acre estate that includes a marine museum, planetarium, and collections of Vanderbilt’s travels. The mansion features a courtyard with Mediterranean gardens, luxurious interiors with stuccoed walls, and a grand library. Today, it is the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, preserving the legacy of the Vanderbilt family.
8. Florham – Madison, New Jersey
Florham was built between 1893 and 1899 for Florence Vanderbilt Twombly, the daughter of William Henry Vanderbilt, and her husband, Hamilton McKown Twombly. This 100-room mansion, designed by McKim, Mead & White, was inspired by English country houses and sits on a 1,200-acre estate. The mansion features grand hallways, a large ballroom, and lavish gardens. Today, Florham is part of Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the main house is used for academic and administrative purposes.
7. Idle Hour – Oakdale, New York
Idle Hour was the grand estate of William K. Vanderbilt, built in 1878 on the banks of the Connetquot River on Long Island. After the original mansion burned down in 1899, Vanderbilt rebuilt a new 110-room mansion in a Beaux-Arts style. The property also included extensive gardens, stables, and a racetrack. After Vanderbilt’s death, the estate became the home of Dowling College, and while the original splendor has faded, it remains a part of Long Island’s history.
6. Belcourt – Newport, Rhode Island
Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, Belcourt was completed in 1894 for Oliver Belmont, who later married Alva Vanderbilt. This 50-room mansion is notable for its dramatic medieval-style architecture and equestrian stables, as Belmont was an avid horseman. The interior is filled with French and Italian furnishings, and the grand staircase is one of the home’s most spectacular features. Belcourt is now a privately owned residence but offers tours to the public after undergoing extensive restorations.
5. Shelburne Farms – Shelburne, Vermont
Shelburne Farms was built in 1886 by Dr. William Seward Webb and Eliza Vanderbilt Webb as a model agricultural estate on the shores of Lake Champlain. The property spans over 1,400 acres and includes a grand 24-room mansion designed by Robert Henderson Robertson. The estate is now a nonprofit organization, promoting sustainability and farming education, and the mansion is a popular destination for visitors who want to explore the historic home and gardens.
4. Elm Court – Lenox, Massachusetts
Elm Court, built in 1886, was the summer home of Emily Vanderbilt Sloane and her husband, William Sloane. The 55-room mansion is a blend of Queen Anne and Shingle Style architecture, designed by Peabody & Stearns. It sits on 90 acres in the Berkshire Mountains, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. After a period of neglect, the estate is undergoing restoration, with plans to reopen it as a luxury hotel and event venue.
3. The William K. Vanderbilt House, aka the Petit Chateau – New York City
The William K. Vanderbilt House, also known as the Petit Château, was a remarkable Gilded Age mansion located at 660 Fifth Avenue in New York City. Designed by the renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt in the French Renaissance château style, it was completed in 1882 for William Kissam Vanderbilt, Cornelius Vanderbilt’s grandson, and his wife, Alva. The Petit Château was a symbol of their wealth and social standing and played a key role in Alva Vanderbilt’s rise to prominence in New York society. The mansion was lavishly decorated, reflecting French elegance and opulence. Alva famously hosted an extravagant costume ball in 1883, which helped secure the Vanderbilt family’s place in high society. Despite its grandeur, the house was demolished in 1926 as the city grew more commercial, marking the end of an era for Gilded Age mansions on Fifth Avenue
2. Cornelius Vanderbilt II Mansion – New York City
The Cornelius Vanderbilt II Mansion, depicted in the image you provided, was one of the grandest private residences ever built in New York City. Located at 1 West 57th Street, it was designed by architect George B. Post in a French Renaissance style and completed in 1883. As the largest private home in the city, it featured 130 rooms and spanned an entire city block. Cornelius Vanderbilt II, a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, commissioned the mansion as a symbol of his immense wealth and influence. However, by the 1920s, due to rising real estate values and the decline of the Gilded Age, the mansion was demolished to make way for modern commercial buildings. It remains a symbol of the excess and architectural grandeur of New York’s Gilded Age.
1. Sagamore Lodge – Raquette Lake, New York
Sagamore Lodge was built in 1897 by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt as a grand Adirondack “Great Camp.” This sprawling estate, set on Raquette Lake, served as a luxurious summer retreat. Designed by architect William West Durant, Sagamore Lodge features rustic yet elegant log cabins, stone fireplaces, and grand halls that perfectly capture the rustic charm of the Adirondack style, combined with Gilded Age opulence. The property includes several log buildings spread across a vast forested area, with the main lodge serving as the centerpiece. Sagamore Lodge was designed for relaxation and recreation, offering guests activities like hiking, boating, and hunting. Today, Sagamore is a National Historic Landmark and operates as a public retreat and educational center, preserving the Vanderbilt family’s Adirondack legacy.
