[title]
Walk in the footsteps of the Astors, Vanderbilts and other elite New Yorkers who lived during the Gilded Age on this new walking tour. Titled “Fifth Avenue in the Gilded Age: Address to Impress,” the tour will whisk visitors back to the late 1800s for a stroll along Manhattan's most prestigious avenue.
Tours, bookable here for $49/person, run on five Saturdays this spring: March 29; April 12 and 26; and May 10 and 24. Events are run by New York Historical Tours in partnership with the Fifth Avenue Association.
RECOMMENDED: See cool vintage train posters at the Transit Museum's new exhibit
Tours are set in the time period of The Gilded Age, the tumultuous era between the Civil War and the turn of the 20th century. It was a time of technological innovation and growth in America—leading to exorbitant wealth for an elite few. The period is known for greed with corrupt industrialists, bankers and politicians who "enjoyed extraordinary wealth and opulence at the expense of the working class," per the History Channel. Wealthy tycoons held the most political power during this era.
On the tour, you'll learn how Fifth Avenue transformed from a quiet residential street into America's grandest address. Highlights include a chance to gaze at the ornate architecture of surviving mansions, peek inside lavish hotels, and visit historic cathedrals.
Plus, you'll learn the captivating stories of the powerful families who called them home. Hear all the gossip about the lives inside these opulent mansions, from the details of Caroline Astor's legendary ballroom to the tales of Vanderbilt's French château. Fans of the HBO's The Gilded Age will be able to dive into the real-life inspirations behind the show and uncover the true stories that rival the drama on screen.
Throughout the experience, discover how New York's elite used their vast industrial fortunes to reshape the city's landscape—and how Fifth Avenue continues to grow and change today as a global shopping destination for luxury and elegance.
Tours run for 90 minutes. The experience will begin at the New York Public Library, then pass by spots including Saks Fifth Avenue, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Cartier Mansion (Plant Mansion), University Club, The St. Regis, Bergdorf Goodman, and The Plaza Hotel.