Lecture in the Mansion: The Vanderbilts and Their Gilded Age Estates

What better setting to explore America’s most opulent era than a preserved Vanderbilt residence filled with original artwork, furniture, and a 17th-century Italian library? It's time to step inside a Gilded Age mansion for an evening where history, architecture, and rich storytelling collide.

Join New York Adventure Club for a captivating in-person lecture inside the House of the Redeemer's Upper East Side mansion. Built in 1916 for Edith Shepard Fabbri — great-granddaughter of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt — the House of the Redeemer is one of Manhattan’s most intact Gilded Age homes with original furnishings, artwork, and a transported 1600s Italian library.

Led by historian Tom Miller, this lecture — a deep dive into the Vanderbilt family, one of the most prominent families of 19th-century America that originally made their fortune in the shipping and railroad industries — will include:

• An overview of the family's early history, from Cornelius Vanderbilt I's youth on a humble Staten Island farm to how he created an industrial empire
• A close look at the architectural masterpieces built by Cornelius' grandchildren, including the Biltmore Estate, Newport estates (such as Marble House and The Breakers), and Fifth Avenue mansions
• A meet & greet with the lecturer after the talk concludes
• An intimate wine & cheese reception after the lecture, offering a chance to mingle following the evening’s discussion
• Stories surrounding Vanderbilt feuds, social triumphs, and public scandals
• Rare historic and modern photographs of many of these iconic Gilded Age estates throughout the country, inside and out

Your ticket includes access to both the lecture and reception.

See you there!

*An elevator is available if the lecture takes place in the second floor library

About Tom

Architectural and social historian Tom Miller is the author of Seeking New York, Seeking Chicago, as well as the popular blog “Daytonian in Manhattan.” Since 2009 Tom has published a blog post on a different Manhattan location every day — now totaling nearly 4,600.

His research and reporting focus as much on the social histories of the buildings — the tragedies and sorrows, triumphs and scandals of the people who built and lived in the houses — as on their architecture and styles.

Tom Miller’s retelling of these stories make the buildings come alive; and suddenly they are more than brick, marble, and limestone, but the histories of real people.

Schedule of Events

6:15pm: Doors Open

6:30-7:45pm: Lecture

7:45-8:30pm: Wine & Cheese Reception with Lecturer Meet & Greet

Transportation

By Subway: Take the 6 subway to 96th Street. The House of the Redeemer is a five minute walk away.

By Car: Since street parking is limited in the area, parking lots are located at 1199 Park Avenue (between 94th St. and 95th St.) as well as GGMC Parking Carnegie Garage (40 E. 94th Street between Madison Ave. and Park Ave.).

Lecture in the Mansion Testimonials

"I liked the setting and the lecturer." -Cynthia

"The venue and set up worked very well for this lecture." -Olivia

"The guide was very engaging and had lots of anecdotes about the true characters behind the story. Alot of the content I already knew, but appreciated the stories of the more minor players." -Nan

"Beautiful location, knowledgeable, and entertaining lecture" -Tiffany

"Loved being in that location and the presenter was excellent. Sitting through a Lecture could be boring, despite the content being of interest, but she made it absolutely riveting - like the show! We enjoyed it so much, picked up tidbits of great information …. Really fantastic. The only thing I might add is encouraging people to mingle more prior versus sitting down" -Aimee

Disclaimer

By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.

Ticket price is for an educational lecture with complimentary snacks & beverages.

Categories: In-Person, Entertainment