Gilded Age House Spotlight: The Vanderbilt Mansion
Completed in 1883, the Cornelius Vanderbilt II mansion on the corner of 57th Street and 5th Avenue was the largest private residence ever built in New York City at that time — an unmatched symbol of Gilded Age wealth and architectural ambition.
Historical Significance
Origins – Built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II by architect George B. Post, with later enhancements by Richard Morris Hunt, the mansion combined imposing French château–style architecture with interiors designed for lavish entertaining.
Key Residents – Cornelius lived there until his death in 1899, after which his widow, Alice, continued to reside there privately, holding on even as Fifth Avenue transformed from a residential boulevard into a bustling commercial center.
Demolition – In 1926, facing rising upkeep costs and intense commercial pressure, Alice sold the property to Braisted Realty Corporation. The house was demolished soon after to make way for the Bergdorf Goodman flagship department store — a defining moment in the decline of Fifth Avenue’s “Millionaires’ Row.”
The House Today
No trace of the mansion remains on the site. Yet pieces of it survive — wrought-iron gates now stand in Central Park, sculptural reliefs now in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel, and a grand fireplace now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Before the wrecking crews arrived, Alice opened the house to the public for a short time, charging a modest admission fee that she donated to charity. It allowed thousands of New Yorkers a final glimpse inside what had been one of the grandest private homes in America.
From Me to You
Whenever I see photographs of this house, I’m struck by how quickly even the most extraordinary homes can disappear. In just one generation, it was gone. Alice’s decision to let the public in one last time feels like an act of generosity that gave the mansion’s beauty a proper farewell. As I travel across the UK filming at historic houses for American Countess, I’m always aware that we’re capturing more than just architecture — we’re preserving a moment in time, before it, too, might be lost. You can find more of these stories on my channel here: American Countess YouTube.