Alva Vanderbilt Was Gifted a Mansion Made of Marble

What is the most extravagant gift you can imagine? Maybe it’s a luxury car or a tropical vacation? Today, we are unwrapping the history of the most opulent gift, Marble House.
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Location: Newport, Rhode Island
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True Lies Movie Poster, Great Gatsby Movie Poster, And The Gilded Age Title Card used under Secton 107 of the Copyright Act, also known as Fair Use
Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress
Creative Commons 2.0(creativecommons.org/licenses/... from: Jennifer Macaulay, xiquinhosilva, Jack and Dianne,
Creative Commons 3.0(creativecommons.org/licenses/... from: EvyRosita, MVASCO, Mfield, Ekem
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Aeriel from: DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University
Music from: Epidemic Sound

[@dotherightthing1295]

I lived in Newport RI for many years and have visited many of these priceless mansions. I had a friend who was a tour guide at The Breakers (another Vanderbilt Home) and got the FULL visit to the house. Another incredible home TH should do. I also boarded my horse at Glen Farm which was owned by the Vanderbilt family, for many years and feel truly blessed to have spent many years of my younger days riding through such beautiful land. The barns on the farm are really something to see also built in 1910 and unlike anything built today for most homes. I have been to a wedding held at Marble House back in the early 1990s. It was a beautiful venue perfect for the large wedding. I found it very very beautiful but cold. Maybe when the families where living there it had a warmer feeling. Its beauty can only be understated, you have to be there and experience the house to truly understand its quality and beauty. No words or pictures can truly describe it or any of those houses.

[@StamperWendy]

It's amazing the way people spent money on houses, and how original they made them. Thanks, Ken!

[@kimberlyearly8918]

I can't even imagine having that much money. So rich she could use it as a closet?! I wonder if she would go there six times a day to change or just transport tons of clothes back and forth. That sounds like too much work either way lol.

[@franceselainethurston1606]

I saw this house, if one can call it a house, and it was just magnificent. My favorite room was Alva's bedroom. I do not know why, but the colors that she chose perhaps is what sold me on that room.

[@LJB103]

No. It's a "cottage!"

[@nonadeplume1145]

What colors did she use?

[@bishopofsahs]

I seen it too it was gorgeous as was with a gorgeous girl then to she was gorgeous

[@heru-deshet359]

It was a closet.

[@BE74297]

They are mafia, they walk into steal homes and buildings from the previous civilization of people they killed and claim they built it and write false his-story.

[@desertsunman5880]

Now, that's a DINING ROOM! What's for dinner, honey ...🍸👑

[@garrettperkins9021]

I’ve visited Marble House twice; it is truly spectacular. The ballroom to the right as you enter the home is amazing. The walls are gold and red, and the when the sun and lights illuminate the room, it looks almost ablaze with all of the gold reflection! One visit was during the winter season. The Christmas decorations were stunning. I’ve also visited the Breakers, Rough Point, and Biltmore, and don’t think I could ever choose a favorite!

[@Derek.Duquesne]

That gold Ballroom is also beautiful at night.

[@kimberlyearly8918]

I bet it's stunning at Christmas! I've been to biltmore and it's absolutely stunning and almost hard to imagine people actually living in such a huge home.

[@davidmcnicol5322]

Another spectacular house and the fact that it still stands today, makes it even more special. Thanks Ken…

[@andrewbrendan1579]

As my mother used to say: "It's a bit much". I find the interiors excessive but the outside is beautifully restrained Beaux Arts creation. I read or heard that the big metal doors at the front of Marble House have no knobs or handles on the outside because there would always be servants on the inside to open the door for visitors; no need for anyone to open the doors from the outside.

[@rebelprynsez24]

I'd have to say that Alva's room was my favorite😊

[@ropeburnsrussell]

The library, it's always the library.

[@DoinThatRag]

Went there as a kid 30 years ago. This was my favorite of all the Newport Mansions there. Not too big (relatively speaking) and it was just gorgeous. Having all the original furnishings really brought the whole thing together. If you haven't gone to Newport and visit all these spectacular places, I highly recommend taking a few days there to take it all in. Well worth it.

[@marissaclaridge7627]

The Marble House is SO beautiful...what a dream!!!Love the beautiful homexxx

[@bakenumber4]

The nicest house I've seen on any site by far.

[@AlexJannis-si6tb]

Αρχιτεκτονικό αριστούργημα Οι άνθρωποι στο παρελθόν γνώριζαν ότι το περισσότερο χρονικό διάστημα στην ζωή ενός ανθρώπου ξοδεύεται στο.σπιτι γι'αυτό φρόντιζαν το σπίτι τους να είναι όμορφο καλαίσθητο κ ξεχωριστό Υπέροχο βίντεο Μπράβο στον δημιουργό

[@Porsche996driver]

My friend was visiting this house and sent me pictures! She said it was called the Marble House. She sent many pictures including the red Library - which shows more detail of the amazing intricate stone ceiling! I know I’d find a great video explainer here in THIS HOUSE! Thanks Ken - I shared this with her (she’s also Chinese, amazing history!).

[@davidmarks8318]

The most important beautiful home in America

[@p.mckenzie2921]

Thanks Ken for this wonderful video of cottage she never called in a house. Could you imagine being so rich as the house as a closet. My favorite room is the dining room when you step in the light just shines off the floors and it looks like you’re floating it has gold throughout the floor and some of it looks like it has pink marble. And if you stand on the cliff walk and look at the teahouse it looks like the wings of the tea house or just floating in the air in the colors of the tea house is very nice the red is very vibrant color even to this day. Ken have you ever took and walked on the cliff walk ? some of it is a easy walk and some of it gets kind of rocky the wind in your face feels fabulous. Have a blessed week.☕️😘

[@foxworthhall726]

Saw this house for the first time when I was 13. Always been intrigued with the family since then!

[@holly6435]

OMG ! WOW !

[@edcomedian357]

I have visited the house. On the tour they talk about one winter the pipes froze and caused tons of water damage to the interior. Most of it has been repaired. I've visited many of the still existing Vanderbilt mansions. I'd put it at 3rd on my list of favs, Ashville, and the Breakers beating it out. Keep up the good work!

[@loumcast]

I had the opportunity to visit the Marble House on a trip to Newport a few years ago, and the house is BEAUTIFUL, no other word to described it. Thanks for all the great history and beautiful homes you feature in all of your videos.

[@GodsFavoriteBassPlyr]

You have really done this property justice, Ken. Exceptional presentation! I have seen this home in Newport many times. All of the homes on tour here are amazingly unique in their own way, but all equally spectacular. (Seeing all of them can be pretty exhausting, and you really need about three days to do it 'right'. But if you love art and architecture - this is the town for you! BTW, The most economic option is to purchase a season pass, rather than individual tickets.) While I feel that The Breakers outshines them all, Marble House certainly runs a very close second.

[@bcfairlie1]

Marble House is actually my favorite 'Gilded Age' property. Largely because it is not as large as so many of them were. It is also very elegant from the outside. Not as fussy or over the top as most of them. Vanderbilt 8m looking at you.

[@monkeygraborange]

I recall thinking that while truly a compendium of historical styles and an homage to the craftsmanship of the past, that actually living in Marble House would be a soul sapping as living in a grandiose public institution or the Met museum.

[@texgal3990]

Spectacular mansion But Alva looks more like an Alvin

[@paulmadmanlee5065]

All of it was amazing!

[@christopherkraft1327]

Marble House is stunning inside & out!!! 👍👍🙂

[@nonadeplume1145]

Great video as usual Ken. My favorite room is the library! That ceiling! All I don't believe Alva ever met some bling she didn't like.

[@Donald_Shaw]

Really enjoy your videos of Gilded Age Homes. Excellent content and wonderful narration. Thank you, Ken.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

I rather like this house. It is grand and opulent, but rather fun also and usually they don't work together! Thank you for the video!

[@firecracker3911]

My favorite room is the library. I wish I could look through some of the really old books that are in there.

[@bhobbs3284]

At the time, decorators bought books by the yard. Often the only criteria was the aesthetics of the spines.

[@j1st633]

As with other comments, it is truly spectacular. There are four other mansions thAt are part of the preservation society and one the Astor house. A must see vacation stop.

[@margaretrodham6815]

Wow, what a magnificent house, I wish it was mine to call home. So glad this was never pulled down like so many others in your stories. This is absolutely my favorite of all the homes you have shown us. Thank you Ken.

[@martinadrempetic2395]

It's amazing how Alva called it "our summer cottage" when it costed 343 ml. $!!! Amazing summer cottage!

[@cynthiazegers7354]

I saw this gorgeous artwork of a home when my dad was on leave in the military at the time and I was not only awestruck by it’s beauty I was also fascinated by the story as we went through it

[@jefflawrentz1624]

I visited this years ago this was one of my favorites. Many of the homes had fresh flowers and I still remember the strong scent of gardenia in a few. This was one of my favorite of the Newport mansions. I believe the Newport Historical Society was able to locate and return a valuable rug that was once in Consuelos bedroom. It’s pretty spectacular.

[@albertpeckham8708]

I hope the house is still in the same spot as it was when I first toured it 50 years ago.

[@Jabari722]

My jaw dropped when he said "she used this house as a closet"

[@Porsche996driver]

2:41 Wait what?! Released 300 hummingbirds on her guests?! 🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

[@andresinsurriaga1082]

It must have been freezing cold in the winter months with all of that marble.

[@cynthiazegers7354]

I loved the kitchen

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing..

[@LJB103]

Excellent video. Living only about 70 miles from Newport, I've been lucky enough to visit lots of times. When I first saw Marble House, the Gothic room was stripped of its ornamentation (fireplace was there, but the stained glass and medieval art were gone; the walls were bland), and her bedroom was a deteriorating tired peach colored silk. After the bedroom was restored, my tour guide said that they were all amazed that when Prelle used their original punch cards from the creation of this room, the silk that came off of the Jacquard looms was the beautiful purple (that had been the original color - and had faded to that bland peach) that is there now. The dining chairs are bronze and weigh 70 lbs each! They require the sitter to push while a servant pulled to move them when in use! My favorite thing here actually does not belong in Marble House: there is a display outside the kitchen of some of the Tiffany private pattern silver service that was created especially for William Vanderbilt for the 660 5th Ave mansion (not used in Newport according to the tours). Note: the dining room and the gold ballroom are the 2 rooms in the front of the "cottage" flanking the entrance.

[@kimberlyearly8918]

Holy marble! I can't imagine having so much money I could build a mansion like that much less out of marble. Eventually a closet?!😱 My favorite room was the library. The stone fireplace and ceiling were unbelievable!

[@duanemuchow9522]

Wow, what a house!

[@jamesparciak5387]

Hi Ken The marble house is magnificent its like being in a grand home in Great Britan. I have been there a number of times for party's and meetings. Thank you.

[@kerrymartin9698]

I have been here many times....they called it their Summer Cottage

[@virginiaeckley3047]

So very Gorgeous

[@rahimshahid1937]

WOW BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL HOME ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@andreaberryhill6654]

The engineering needs to hold so much marble is extensive.

[@potatobhu08]

Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal : Hold our turbans and shawls.

[@memlane25]

Just there two weeks ago. Fabulous!

[@johnbryan5608]

I wonder what happened to the hummingbirds…

[@jamesclendon4811]

Crapped on all the guests, then flew too close to the chandeliers and expired, their tiny bodies falling into the elaborate coiffures of the elegant ladies below. At least that's what I hoped happened. Alternatively, they flew up to the ceiling where they nested in the decorative plasterwork and reproduced, their descendants living there happily to this day.

[@johnbryan5608]

Appetizers for the servants. 😉

[@glennmcgee1729]

When I walked up the driveway to this palace years ago, I imagined what it would be like to be among the uber rich. A must visit when touring the remaining "cottages" in Newport.

[@windronner1]

What make these Siri so interesting? Is these homes exceed the imagination of some of the most currently wealthy homeowners.

[@twilightpurpleglow]

Add this amazing gorgeous Mansion to my "Bucket List" William Vanderbilt must have loved Alva very much; sadly they divorced 😪 I loved the Chinese Tea House ⛩ I wish you had shown us the inside. (as I love everything Chinese) but the house is a real gem. Thanks to Harold Vanderbilt and the Prince Family the house was saved.

[@bethbartlett5692]

This is an attractive exterior. If the interior matched the exterior, it would be awesome today. It could be replicated with other products and build on a reasonable scale, resulting in most attractive home. The clean clarity is appealing.

[@jonrussell1690]

This is absolutely beautiful!! I’ll need to go to Newport to take a look at this one. Beautiful and thank you for the video.

[@patdonnelly9392]

Poor hummingbirds!!!

[@amyogden7376]

Well done👍🏻

[@jrw5831]

My favorite room is the cozy library

[@jamespn]

The house was a used to house Alba’s dresses, the family didn’t live there. All the homes on this street are spectacular, its a good thing that the Newport Historical Society kept the historical mansion up over the years otherwise, they’d be demolished by now.

[@kathleenardrey5094]

Wow. The wealth among a few families still amazes me! The laborers on these sites are just as amazing; imagine the work without the tools we now have had since even the last 25 years. Any way you could tell us what the wages were for the common laborers? Their daily hours?

[@johnmontag]

That’s how you turn 10’s of billions into 0. Building multiple hundred million $ homes w huge staff. Must of lived a crazy life though

[@davidward805]

Another great video!

[@paco7992]

Your really taking off! I'm so happy for you. I get excited when I see your episode! I brew tea and get my snack ready... And think "ahh, if only"!

[@christopherquinn1879]

I would loved to have been there Alava turned on the lights and showed everyone the house for the first time that would have been amazing. Thanks again Ken another great and educating video.

[@alexstokowsky6360]

I really have to laugh at that. These gilded age rich were such show-offs!

[@tedlawrence4189]

I was born in a log cabin with both sheep and goats. Kind of a cross between Lincoln and Jesus I guess. The only thing marble that we had were some marbles we played with.

[@kendranewton9071]

Loved the library

[@Jmike12345]

And this…..is why the Vanderbilt fortune is gone….😂😂😂

[@rickwilliamson1417]

Awesome mansion

[@mr.x8259]

There is a trophy room upstairs that was originally a pair of bedrooms.

[@mikenixon2401]

The Vanderbilt story is so sad. The first generation works hard and creates a fortune. The second generation maintains business. After that following generations squander all the wealth away. Then we are left with Anderson Cooper. Another good report, Ken.

[@williammurray8060]

Yeah, Cooper is as dumb as they were.

[@philipgermani1616]

Now that is a Mansion! Beauty and class and sheer opulence.

[@nicoler3499]

Poor hummingbirds 💔😓

[@mundanemidwest1945]

Kept the commoners out.

[@westminster860]

Yes visited there as well as others on Bellevue. This is probably the most over the top. To me the most beautiful was the Elms , in the French chateau style as well as Rose Cliff opening up to the sea. The Breakers wasn't bad either.🤣 I lived not far away in Fall River with it's most famous in habitants house down the hill and her second house up the hill.

[@anthonycoca2202]

Having poured through four passports, while traveling the world 10 times over, I’ve realized that I’ve been all over the globe, but as a native Angelino from California, have traveled to only six or seven different states here in the good ol’ USA. As a consequence, I have decided to tour the grand palaces of America. This property is on that list.

[@fransirahome]

Grand and opulent marble house.

[@ebonyminor2639]

If you haven’t already, can you do one on Beacon Towers?

[@rawtalent1943]

Dam wow

[@margarita8442]

It had a staff of only 70 !!!

[@paluje3591]

Hi, you're saying that the dining room is in the BACK !!!??? It is in the front of the house to the left of the entrance opposite the formal living room or Ball Room . Am I right ??

[@wdm5552]

Yes you are correct.

[@honorladone8682]

It's only money. You can't take it with you. Philadelphia USA

[@user-zo7zl8cs7p]

Making my Momma a marble headstone suite me I have the slab of marble I buried it for seven years God blessed me back there and I got it covering a hole in the floor my rv lol

[@Handyman_and_DIY]

Some say buildings are the monuments dedicated to their architects payed by customers.

[@ivanolsen7966]

2:28 .... " she had already divorced William "..... some women just don't know what side of their bread is buttered

[@jessicawysocki7844]

She Was Gifted a Mansion Made of Marble!... IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME OR WHAT!!

[@JosePerez-js1kc]

Deben traducir el relato en el idioma español para esa audiencia. Gracias

[@vincentbedard4300]

marble house was not used in the film the great gatsby , it was the elms.

[@vincentbedard4300]

i am heartly sorry it wasn't the elms, it was rosecliff.

[@jamesparciak5387]

Hi Vincent The movie, The Great Gatsby

[@jamesparciak5387]

I didn't finish my message, The movie The Great Gatsby was filmed at the house Rosecliff. The movie Mr North was filmed at the house The Elms. I have spent quite a bit of time at these houses.

[@asylumlover]

A FEW NECESSARY STEPS COME TO MIND, MAKE SURE THAT IT IS DECLARED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, SURROUND IT WITH ARMED GUARDS, AND MAKE SURE IT IS DECLARED A DEMOLITION FREE ZONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nancyvickers2814]

No doubt the house is beautiful and spectacular - I just thought it lacked any warmth. It feels austere and cold. I have never thought homes decorated for “show” had any warmth or family-feel. A little more wood would have warmed up the place.

[@cassandraralph5906]

One of my more favored house, with a beautiful staircase, and rooms. However marble is not a good material to use, as it can be a very cold, and slippery stone, both to look at, and to touch. Houses with marble in them tend to be very cold. Enough said.

[@joanknappenberger4420]

You did not go out on the back portico it is wonderful especially at sunset

[@brentwallace3509]

We visited Marble House and in the Gothic room/library I saw a large black book. Maybe 2’x3’ in size on the desk. Does anyone know what that book is?

[@Jabari722]

Does anyone know how tall the walls were in this house?

[@gandfgandf5826]

It is a bit much but I like it. Facades are grand and quite beautiful. Interiors are almost vulgar, but the past is another country. There's a house with a similar facade, inspired by Marble House, where I live, in Melbourne Australia, built several years ago. I assume the interiors aren't anything like this. It only cost 70 million AUD, or about 50 mill USD, so it's probably rather basic by comparison.

[@ivanolsen7966]

shame they cannot keep the outside CLEAN

[@samanthab1923]

I prefer Marble House to the Breakers. But why didn’t Alva keep it after the divorce? It was a gift.

[@bonitahobbs2374]

DIVORCED HIM AFTER HE FAVE HER THIS HOUSE. I. was listening and wondered how their relationship would hold up! Who got custody of the home and/ or who kept the ownership of it? It seems it remained her GIFT❗❗❗

[@terrancearndt1689]

Commoners huh?? I resent that.