Part 3/11:
Instead of building yet another luxurious city mansion or summer cottage, Vanderbilt and his wife envisioned something different: a vast, working farm that would showcase modern scientific agriculture. Their inheritance provided the means to realize such a pioneering project, reflecting their desire to create a practical yet inspiring estate.
Designing a Refuge in Nature
Under Lilian's urging, William transitioned from medicine to finance, taking the helm of Vanderbilt-controlled railroad companies, where he became a major railroad magnate. By the mid-1880s, their combined wealth, status, and shared idealism enabled them to purchase land in Vermont—specifically near Shelburne and Lake Champlain.