A Temple Tomb for a Robber Baron

The Gould Mausoleum in New York's Woodlawn Cemetery is one of the most opulent survivals from America's Gilded Age.

[@JeffinBville]

When I was younger we used to wander around Woodlawn. I cannot recommend it enough for those interested in how we spend our money to honor the lives of those who have passed. It is a wonderland of interesting architecture.

[@macpduff2119]

My family used to visit grandparents graves in Woodlawn Cemetery. I was fascinated as a child by the mausoleums which looked like children's playhouses to me. I was also mesmerized by a monument to a small boy who sleep walked and was struck by lightening. I was a child and the concept of another child dying made a big impression on me

[@Wyattinous]

This is a very interesting twist for your channel at the moment, visiting such structures in America. I’ve always been captivated by such beautiful architecture. If you’re ever in Plymouth MA, there’s a different kind of classical-esc architecture from the National Monument of the Forefathers. Even though it’s dedicated to the Pilgrims, the open space and the five gargantuan statues at the center is like walking up to a pantheon of stoic looking Gods. Nothing else quite like it around, very beautiful with beautiful details and history attached.

[@larsrons7937]

Nice little gem of a story. I remember J. Gould from the 1998 PC game _Railroad Tycoon II_ which I still play (one of the few old PC games that runs well on any modern PC without any effort; install the CD and the game will run, CD in drive is _not_ required, only for installation).

[@whoaitstiger]

If anyone wants to learn more about the fascinating and controversial life and career of Jay Gould, I highly recommend the book American Rascal: How Jay Gould Built Wall Street's Biggest Fortune by Greg Steinmetz.

[@forkthepork]

Golden Gould's Grave. Lovely.

[@alankovacik1928]

Should you ever end up in Nashville, visit the Nashville Parthenon. It would be great if you did a video on this, The interior houses a full size replica of Athena complete with a statue of Nike in her outstretched hand 🖐.

[@brianmckeever5280]

Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis has some nice mausoleums if you're ever that way. I don't remember any as grand that harken back to ancient Greece, but there are examples. Happy trails!

[@sargerpd]

You should go to the Getty Villa in Los Angeles at some point!

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

Many examples of that in America. How come you have not done a video of the replica Parthenon in Nashville, TN???

[@SwolllenGoat]

ffs

[@pigeonsareugly]

Cause he’s probably not been in Nashville whilst making videos???

[@PhryneMnesarete]

“We have seen the deaths of kings, and they are much like the deaths of peasants. But the resting-places are grander, and perhaps that makes the difference.”

[@michaelhurley3171]

American Ozymandius, look upon my work and despair!

[@michaelporzio7384]

Hop over to Staten Island, "The Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt's mausoleum is in Moravian Cemetery. Designed by Fredrick Olmstead of US Capitol Building fame. Neo Romanesque style, very impressive.

[@paulkoza8652]

Thanks for the tip. I will.

[@michaelporzio7384]

@@paulkoza8652 I did some further checking, although the Vanderbilt mausoleum is part of the Moravian cemetery, it is on private land and reserved only for the Vanderbilt family (dead or alive). Though it does have National Historic Landmark status, it is not open to the public.

[@reeyees50]

Is this the same mausoleum that was shown the last sergio leone film ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA?

[@edcomedian357]

Have u visited the Copy of the acropolis (spelling ?) in Nashville I believe?

[@neilterry1726]

Is Woodlawn a brand name, ir did people all over the country just spontaneously decide it was the best name for a cemetery?

[@muscledavis5434]

I love things like this! Shows how much antiquity had become part of European (and American since it came from there) culture at those times. In Poland is an interesting place called grave of the family "von Hoym". It is a small doric temple, but it is in ruins. The tympanon is gone for example. But I like the place because by being in ruines, this small temple makes it seem even more like antiquity and Europe since Renaissance are somehow the same. It is all connected through time.

[@michelleeden2272]

Must be the same fellow who paid for the Gould Galleries in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love the Napoleonic antiques in the west gallery.

[@matthewcole4753]

On Staten Island is the Vanderbilt Mausoleum, a large Romanesque Chapel, designed by Richard Morris Hunt and Frederick Law Olmsted. It has 2 domes and is even landmarked. Unfortunately because it is still active, it is gated. At Moravian Cemetery where the Mausoleum is, you can also see Martin Scorsese's mausoleum, where he plans to be interred. It's a nice neoclassical building, but much smaller.

[@jk484]

Who pays for these masoleums today, like the upkeep and maintenance for them? Can you go insdie and see the tomb?

[@paulkoza8652]

Most are locked.

[@IronCoffin23]

I can't speak for this particular cemetery, but most cemeteries charge a "perpetual care" fee at the time of burial that's intended to cover the upkeep and maintenance of the grave space or mausoleum. Of course the costs can't literally be covered "perpetually," but that's the idea at any rate. Larger mausoleum buildings that include a great deal of people from different, unrelated families (a public mausoleum) will be open to the public during the cemeteries open hours. Smaller, private ones like the one in this video will often have a locked door or gate, with the key being given to the family (and a copy retained by the cemetery) after the time of purchasing the structure. This way family may freely come and pay their respects.

[@12TribesUnite]

Robber Baron ! Of course!

[@paulkoza8652]

Trot up to Sleepy Hollow cemetery in Tarrytown the next time you have some time.

[@robertafierro5592]

My Grandmother could be buried here for all.i know..i was told she was buried in the Bronx, but we never went to.her grave.

[@guyfawkesuThe1]

This is the place the Godfather was shot right?

[@random22026]

1:11 to 1:13

[@megansfo]

He didnt want to be forgotten! Nothing exceeds like excess. 💰

[@davidmajer3652]

In time, that stone will be used for something else.

[@paulkoza8652]

In 1000 years, it will all be dust.

[@billbauer9795]

Are those cemeteries a safe place to be, or is there an unreasonably high chance of being mugged/attacked there?

[@user-uy6ug3nf4t]

Nothings adds up with the American history

[@mikeFolco]

Takes a special kind of psychopathic, oversized ego to want to build something like that for your corpse.

[@paulkoza8652]

Makes one wonder what the funeral was like.

[@johnathanmartin1504]

They just want to be remembered.

[@matthew-jy5jp]

Is this the same person that had ties to President Ulysse S grant ?

[@michaeldunne338]

Not big on Wikipedia, but they have a section on Grant's scandals (so there is accessibility), and they had this point to say regarding the complex scheme of Back Friday Gold Panic: "he intricate financial scheme was primarily conceived and administered by Wall Street manipulator Jay Gould and President Grant's brother-in-law, Abel Rathbone Corbin, who would use his personal relationship to influence the President. " ... Now: "the two speculators urged Grant not to sell any gold from the Treasury and attempted to convince him that a high price of gold would help farmers and the Erie Railroad.[12] President Grant, however, was stoic and did not agree to their suggestion to stop releasing Treasury Gold into the market.[12]" But then: "President Grant consulted with businessman, A. T. Stewart, Grant's initial Cabinet nominee for Secretary of Treasury, concerning the Treasury's selling gold. Stewart advised Grant that the Treasury should not sell gold, in order that the Government would not be involved in the gold market.[13] Grant accepted Stewart's advice and wrote to Boutwell that selling extra Treasury gold would upset agriculture sales" And then: "As the price of gold began to rise, Grant became suspicious of possible manipulation and wrote a letter to Secretary Boutwell on September 12, stating "The fact is, a desperate struggle is now taking place...I write this letter to advise you of what I think you may expect, to put you on your guard." Quite complicated. Short of it, the god market collapsed. Think this all unfolded from June to October of 1869. Corbin was not good or Grant; and Grant's administration was infiltrated a bit.