23 February 2025
Architecture

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

Jenniferby Jennifer

I toured Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York many years ago, but read that it gets over-the-top decorated for Christmas, so I made a detour to check it out. It was barely decorated for Christmas at all, but it’s still a pretty incredible historic house, so well worth a stop.

The Beaux-Arts mansion was one of the vacation homes owned by Frederick William Vanderbilt and his wife Louise Holmes Anthony. At just 54 rooms, it is probably obvious that the couple had no children. It was built between 1896 and 1899, perched on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River. It cost $660,000 to build, and $1.5 million to furnish.

The central hall is where visitors first arrive. It’s elliptical in shape, with access to all the other rooms on the first floor accessed from it.
The living room, paneled in Circassian walnut.

The home was originally situated on around 600 acres, though today’s holdings are about one-third of that. There are formal gardens, though in December these were all rather bare. It was a very cold day, but I did manage explore the lovely grounds for about 45 minutes.

When Frederick Vanderbilt died in 1938 the home passed to a niece, who donated it (including the furnishings) the following year to the National Park Service, who still runs it today. Most of what is seen on the tour today is original to the home.

A Den for the men!
French Salon reception room, in the Louis XV-style. Though originals were sought, in the end the paneling had to be recreated, boo-hoo. The room was little-used, perhaps to serve tea or as a meeting point before dinner.
1887 Annular Clock (revolving dial clock). “The globe is set with two rotating chapter rings—one marking the minutes in Arabic numerals, the other marking the hour in Roman numerals. The time is indicated from above by a gilt arrow held in the hand of a surmounting putto lying alongside a seated cupid holding his bow.”
This is the side of the house that faces the Hudson River; the cover photo is the view guests arriving by car or carriage would see.
Decorative structure framing the formal gardens; at the far end you can just make out a statue presiding over a pool.
Statuary in a nook, like you do.
The Dining Room measures 50 by 30 feet and is finished with parcel-gilt full-height walnut paneling (obviously this picture is just a corner of it). The ceiling is 17th century, salvaged from an Italian palazzo. A pair of 16th century fireplaces flank either end. The Persian carpet is believed to be 400 or so years old, and is the most valuable item in the house.
Check out those tassels.
Another section of the Dining Room.
Mrs. V’s bedroom, in the Louis XV style. The railing around the bed is – well, that’s what the French royals did, so…
Mrs. V’s boudoir (private room for writing letters and such).
Mr. V’s bedroom. Check out that ceiling!!
The grand staircase.
From the second floor, this looks down over the central hall below (pictured above). Check out the details on the ceiling and the railing itself.
Though it was too late in the year for the gardens, there were some frozen roses that caught my fancy.

Jennifer

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