Part 13/14:
Morton F. Plant’s life epitomized the extravagance and ingenuity of America’s Gilded Age elite—not merely in his wealth but also in his strategic real estate transactions and personal passions. His legendary pearl necklace exchange remains a symbol of the era's value system, where personal relationships and symbolism could be exchanged as readily as cash.
His mansions, ranging from the city’s luxury penthouses to rural estates, reflect the architectural tastes and social aspirations of a bygone era. Today, some of these grand homes endure as historic landmarks, while others have been repurposed, telling stories of adaptability and change across a century.