Part 1/12:
The Golden Age of American Mansions: A Journey Through Lost Luxury
Long Island, Newport, and the grand estates of America's gilded age have long symbolized an era of unparalleled wealth, ambition, and architectural audacity. From the opulent palaces lining Newport's cliffs to the sprawling compounds of Chicago's North Shore, these mansions reflected not only material excess but also the societal ambitions of America's most influential families. Yet, as time passed—war, economic downturns, changing tastes—many of these castles and villas vanished, leaving behind a fascinating legacy of glory, scandal, and decline.