Time Travel on 5th Avenue
Last September before going to NYC I was looking into weird and wonderful tours of the Big Apple and I discovered The Municipal Art Society, this is really a group of New Yorkers who – so I looked up their line-up and found The Vanderbilts of 5th Ave were on their schedule amongst other amazing tours like Downtown Deco or Brooklyn’s Brown Stones.
The Vabnderbilts conjured up lost glamour to me so that sealed the deal and for my last day in New York I took the tour with the MAS to to uncover the remnants of what is left of the Vanderbilt architectural legacy in New York City.
To contextulaise The Vanderbilts (in case you didn’t know) were one of the richest families in America, having made their money on the Rail Roads.
Gates in Central Park
An opulent fireplace in a 5th Ave in the Hotel.
“the bits and pieces of history that chronicle the four-generation saga of the Vanderbilt Family are scattered everywhere like a broken string of pearls…But nowhere is that curious combination of magnificence and absurdity that was the Gilded age more palpable than in the great country homes that still stand today as monuments to their dreams and fantasies.”
The Costume Ball to end all Costume Balls
The Vanderbilts had something to celebrate—a new French chateau style mansion at 660 Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street that overshadowed most of the other luxurious homes on the Avenue. Invitations were hand delivered to all who had graciously stopped by their new home to wish them well. All but Mrs. Astor, who had never visited the Vanderbilts. Thus a quick visit by Mrs. Astor gained her a seat at The Ball and gained Mrs. Vanderbilt admittance onto the prestigious 400 List.
The Museum City New York have written a great blog post on the ball which changed elite society saying that as grand as the new mansion was, the ball which served as her housewarming party was even grander. On March 26, 1883 Alva threw one of the most incredible parties that New York had ever seen. And also said At ten in the evening carriages began arriving at 660 5th Avenue, dropping off nearly 1200 outrageously costumed members of the highest ranks of society. Crowds, held back by police, strained to catch glimpses of debutantes and society stalwarts attired in their costumes as they were escorted into the mansion.
