: If you missed this series in
2023 -- or simply want a fresh take -- this is your
chance to revisit the Gilded Age, a time of breathtaking wealth, rapid industrial growth, and stark
social contrasts. Between 1877 and 1896, fortunes were made -- and so were myths. While tycoons built empires, an entire working class kept
the machine running behind the scenes.
In this second class of the Gilded Age series, historians and authors Nancy Markey and Kay Adams turn their attention to the Vanderbilts and
other so-called Robber Barons. The Vanderbilts
rose to prominence through shipping and railroads, amassing one of the greatest fortunes in
American history. With that wealth came a lifestyle of extreme opulence -- lavish mansions in
New York, summer ‘cottages’ in Newport, and
estates like the iconic Biltmore in North Carolina.
But their story is more than just luxury. You’ll also
explore their philanthropic ventures, social influence, and the legacy they left behind. Join us to
unpack the power, privilege, and ambition that
defined America’s wealthiest families. Each session in the series stands on its own -- come for
one, or stay for more!