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For fans of The Gilded Age, the opulent world of the Russell and van Rhijn families often sparks curiosity about the real-life mansions that inspired the lavish sets. The bad news? We can't get you the wardrobe or send you back in time to a good old fashioned ball. The good news is, many of these stunning architectural masterpieces are still standing, preserved, and open to the public. You can step back in time and experience the grandeur of America's Gilded Age firsthand. Keep reading for a list of magnificent homes you can visit while you wait for season 4.
Here are the best mansions The Gilded Age fans can visit in real life. Stream the season finale on HBO Max now!
1. The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport Mansions
This iconic Vanderbilt mansion is a quintessential example of Gilded Age extravagance. Built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, it's a 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. A quirk we love: one of the many bathrooms was built to pipe in salt water directly from the ocean in their backyard. We love a decadent queen.
2. Marble House, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport Mansions
William K. Vanderbilt commissioned another Vanderbilt property in Newport, Marble House, as a 39th birthday present for his wife, Alva. It's considered a groundbreaking example of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States. It's also very, very close to one of the few remaining Newport Creamery restaurants exclusive to the state — stop there for an Awful Awful (their take on a milkshake) and compare notes on your favorite pieces of furniture from the house.
3. Rosecliff, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport Mansions
Inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles, Rosecliff was built for Theresa Fair Oelrichs. Its stunning ballroom and heart-shaped staircase are famous and have been featured in several films. What's great about the mansions on the cliffs in Newport is that once you visit them, it is easy to access the Newport Cliffwalks, a stunning scenic walk along the backyards of Newport's mansions overlooking the ocean.
4. The Elms, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport Mansions
Designed by Horace Trumbauer for coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind, The Elms is a classical revival estate with magnificent gardens and a fascinating story of upstairs-downstairs life. When you visit this location, be sure to get a tour and all the details on the daily drama in the house.
5. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, Miami, Florida
Miami & Beaches
Florida? That is not the Northeast. Yes, that's true, and while geographically distinct from the usual Gilded Age hotspots, Vizcaya is still a magnificent estate built by industrialist James Deering. Its European-inspired architecture and extensive gardens offer a unique glimpse into the era's taste. It's giving The White Lotus luxury.
6. Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Biltmore Estate
The largest private home in the United States, Biltmore, was built for George Washington Vanderbilt II. This French Renaissance chateau boasts 250 rooms and is a sprawling testament to Gilded Age ambition. Can you even begin to imagine having 43 bathrooms? Sure, it sounds great in theory, but imagine cleaning day.
7. Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury, New York
Old Westbury Gardens
This Charles II-style mansion was built for John S. Phipps and his wife, Margarita Grace Phipps. The estate's magnificent formal gardens and woodlands are as impressive as the house itself. You've got to do their lilac walk — one look and you'll understand why so many movies set in the Gilded Age have been shot there.
8. Kykuit, The Rockefeller Estate, Pocantico Hills, New York
Jaime Martorano for Historic Hudson Valley
The country home of four generations of the Rockefeller family, Kykuit offers a fascinating insight into the life of one of America's most influential Gilded Age families. The estate features impressive art collections, gardens, and architecture. The motto for building the house was apparently "What would God build, if he had the money?" Yeah, that tells you everything you need to know.
Check out A Complete Breakdown Of The Gilded Age Characters Who Were Real People for even more history!
