Recently, an ironic twist of fate saw the Vanderbilts quite literally evicted from one of their most magnificent creations.

Their ancestral abode - “The Breakers”, an estate grand enough to mirror the family’s colossal repute - fell to the hands of a local preservation society.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
1:08 Chapter 1: From Rags To Riches To Rags
4:16 Chapter 2: The Birth of Preservation Societies
7:04 Chapter 3: The Vanderbilt Family's Crossroads
8:51 Chapter 4: The Eviction of The Final Vanderbilts
12:15 Chapter 5: A New Chapter for The Breakers Mansion

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In this episode of Old Money Mansions, we delve into the compelling story of the Vanderbilt family, whose rise and fall epitomize the American dream and its potential pitfalls. Their story, intertwined with the nation's economic and architectural history, particularly during The Gilded Age, is a rich narrative of opulence, legacy, and eventual downfall.

We begin with Cornelius Vanderbilt, the patriarch who built a transportation empire, shifting from steamships to railroads, amassing a fortune that redefined American wealth. His influence extended beyond commerce to architecture, with the Biltmore Estate and The Breakers Mansion being prime examples of the family's lavish tastes.

The Breakers, a symbol of Vanderbilt grandeur in Newport, Rhode Island, represents more than just architectural magnificence; it encapsulates the family's rise to prominence. However, as the twentieth century dawned, the Vanderbilt wealth began to wane, and the family's hold on their empire weakened.

This episode also explores the birth of architectural preservation societies in the U.S., particularly The Preservation Society of Newport County, which played a pivotal role in the fate of The Breakers. Initially partnering with the Vanderbilts to maintain the mansion, this relationship eventually soured, leading to a historic eviction of the family from their ancestral home in 2018.

The final segment of our episode examines the transformation of The Breakers into a public museum, marking a new chapter in its history. This transformation, while preserving the mansion's legacy, has also led to legal disputes and public debate, reflecting the complexities of preserving history in the modern world.