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Vanderbilt Mansion - Hyde Park

Vanderbilt Mansion had an open house today. The National Park Service has done a great job preserving this Gilded Age treasure. Home of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt, the mansion was built in 1895 and handed over to the National Park Service in 1940, two years after Frederick’s death.

The mansion is decorated for Christmas, although the family mainly used this house for two months in the spring and two months in the fall.

Photos are grainy as I had the ISO cranked over 3200 for everything inside.

Mr. & Mrs. Vanderbilt’s guests lining up to get in the house.

Mr. & Mrs. Vanderbilt’s guests lining up to get in the house.

The first parlor.  This had a two story ceiling that was capped by a skylight.

The first parlor. This had a two story ceiling that was capped by a skylight.

The ladies parlor.

The ladies parlor.

Gentleman’s Parlor

Gentleman’s Parlor

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Dining Room

Dining Room

Stairway.  The interesting thing is it wasn’t a particularly grand staircase like you see in typical gilded age mansions.

Stairway. The interesting thing is it wasn’t a particularly grand staircase like you see in typical gilded age mansions.

The balcony on the second floor with skylight above.

The balcony on the second floor with skylight above.

Mr. Vanderbilt’s bedroom

Mr. Vanderbilt’s bedroom

Mrs. Vanderbilt’s bedroom.  The railing around her bed looked like marble or other hard surface.

Mrs. Vanderbilt’s bedroom. The railing around her bed looked like marble or other hard surface.

Look at that Newell Post!

Look at that Newell Post!

An upstairs bath.

An upstairs bath.

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Looking up the stairs.

Looking up the stairs.

The $6M portico that the National Park Service just redid.

The $6M portico that the National Park Service just redid.

The bachelor’s quarters (and visitors center).

The bachelor’s quarters (and visitors center).