Nothing says “old money” nowadays quite like the extravagant mansions of America’s early business tycoons.
With money being no object, these wealthy magnates of industry built vast estates full of material treasures, lush gardens, and every modern convenience. And as grand as these mansions were, they were often only one of many owned by the same family.
Generations later, you can see how the other half lived (more like only a handful of people in the country) in all their preserved glory when you visit these historic luxury estates.
Hearst Castle in central California was the residence of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, where he lived from 1919 to 1947.
Hearst had his hands in dozens of business ventures – from starting the nation’s largest newspaper, to communications and production companies – which gave him plenty of spending money for his flamboyant and extravagant tastes.
He was particularly fond of the Hollywood elites of the Golden Age, and the door was always open for their visits.
From parties to formal balls and dinners, the likes of Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Greta Garbo, and Jimmy Stewart passed through these hallways.
Hearst also hosted political figures of the day like Franklin Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and other U.S. Presidents, even foreign dignitaries like Winston Churchill.
Not only could they fly into the estate’s private airfield away from the spying paparazzi, but they could also be fetched from Los Angeles on Hearst’s very own train car.
The estate boasted numerous facilities that provided plenty of opportunity to lounge in the sun, ride horses, explore the gardens or pool, view a private screening in the mansion’s movie theater, or simply take in the huge collection of antiques collected by the family over the years.
When Hearst died in 1951, the house and grounds became part of the state park system and was opened to visitors in 1958. It is a National Historic Landmark and entertains millions of visitors from all over the world annually.
Biltmore Estate is the largest private residence in the U.S., rivaling even the most luxurious European castles. Located in Asheville, North Carolina, it is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in the nation – partly because no one can imagine one family living in such an enormous home.
The estate boasts 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces, just right for a cozy evening at home. And no need to leave the house – it also housed a bowling alley, Olympic-sized swimming pool (complete with changing rooms for the guests), and just about any other amenity you could imagine.
The mansion was started in 1889 by George Vanderbilt II with the vast financial resources obtained by the family through railroads, shipyards, and other endeavors, and was completed in 1895.
George Vanderbilt went on extensive European shopping sprees to decorate the home with ornate furnishings, books, statues, tapestries and works of art dating as far back as the 15th century.
Although it is still owned by the Vanderbilt family as a private residence, it receives millions of visitors a year (willing to pay a bit of a hefty ticket price) who tour the castle, gardens, and outbuildings.
Biltmore is also a premium wedding destination with its own hotel, vineyard, and shops. A visit at Christmastime is an especially unforgettable experience with hundreds of decorations and themed trees, including a massive live tree in the Banquet Hall that is actually taken down, replaced, and redecorated in the middle of the season to give guests the most pristine experience possible.
Guests of the day included famous authors Henry James and Edith Wharton, as well as countless Presidents like the notable rough rider, Teddy Roosevelt.
A fun and unique room in the castle is one you will never see the likes of again – the “Halloween Room.” It is thought that the Vanderbilts held a grand Halloween party in this room, allowing guests to paint the walls with murals, likely while imbibing on copious amounts of alcohol or other “treats.”
Vanderbilt Mansion (Hyde Park) is another Vanderbilt home in New York state. (Yes, the phrase “more money than God” comes to mind.)
Built between 1896 and 1899, the house blends many historical styles that mimic the Renaissance and other European trends and was once described by the New York Times as “the finest place on the Hudson.”
Owner Frederick Vanderbilt purchased the land due to its close proximity to New York City for his business dealings, and he could also take the train into the city on his very own New York Central Railroad.
The previous owners of the land had already cultivated beautiful gardens and manicured lawns full of trees and statuary, which Vanderbilt expanded upon when he started construction on the 45-room home. (If 45 rooms sounds like chump change in comparison to Biltmore, take heart – this was just a summer home.)
The Vanderbilt Historic House Museum is now owned and operated by the National Park Service and welcomes visitors to tour one of the Vanderbilt family’s “little country homes.”
Kykuit is an eclectic mansion in New York that was built by oil and industry tycoon John D. Rockefeller.
Its name derives from the Dutch word meaning “lookout” in an ode to its location on the highest point in Mt. Pleasant, New York, overlooking the Hudson and allowing views of up to 25 miles away – including the New York City skyline.
Rockefeller is regarded as perhaps the wealthiest American of all time, even to this day, and this 40-room home was completed as a family getaway in 1913, after an almost complete change in style to its present Classical Revival state.
John D.’s son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. helped his father amass an impressive collection of art and furnishings that was added to by another famous Rockefeller family member, Nelson, former Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States under Gerald Ford.
Visitors, especially the guys, can also enjoy an impressive collection of vintage automobiles that are housed on the property, in addition to touring the house and gardens.
It is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and wonderful views of the manor house can be seen on guided boat tours.
The Breakers is another Vanderbilt mansion located in Newport, Rhode Island.
The 70-room mansion was completed in 1895 as a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt as a hat-tip to the villas of the Italian Renaissance.
It is interesting to note that because the previous mansion on the property burned down in 1892, (after Vanderbilt took ownership) he called on the most notable engineers and architects of the day to make his summer residence “fireproof.”
It was built with steel trusses and no wooden elements, and its boiler was buried in an underground room in a far corner of the front lawn.
Designers traveled to all corners of the globe to track down unique pieces of artwork, ornate furnishings, opulent gilded statuary, and ornate rugs, providing representational art from all over Europe, the Far East, and Africa.
The estate is surrounded on three sides by 30-foot-high gates and 12-foot stone and iron fences. The other side opens up to a spectacular view of the Atlantic. In comparison to its counterparts, The Breakers only fairly recently became a National Historic Landmark in 1994, which for some of us, doesn’t seem all that long ago.
Don’t miss a chance to tour one of these extravagant homes built by some of the wealthiest families in American history.
Families like the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers spent their fortunes on these homes to establish themselves as the most prominent members of society during their time.
Unlike European castles and villas built by aristocrats with established bloodlines and long pedigrees, these business tycoons seemed to have something to prove – and they certainly got their point across with these magnificent estates.
Enjoy taking a tour of one or all of them and soak up such opulent lifestyles the next time you are looking for a historic adventure.