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The Golden Age of American Summer Resorts: A Journey Through Opulence and Elegance

The Golden Age of America was a time when the concept of summer vacation was practically invented, especially among the well-to-do. Wealthy industrialists and high society would escape their stifling cities each summer, retreating to lavish resorts or building luxurious "summer cottages" along coastlines and mountain regions. Before the advent of air conditioning, the primary goal was to escape the heat and mingle with elite peers in cooler climates. This need for opulence and exclusivity spurred the creation of some of the most magnificent summer retreats across the United States, from Newport’s cliffs to the peaks of the Adirondacks, and from the shores of Midwest lakes to the California coast.