Inside Andrew Carnegie's Manhattan Mega Mansion

[@christopherkraft1327]

It's so nice to see that the Carnegie mansion still exists & can be enjoyed by all. Thanks for sharing another interesting video!! 👍👍

[@karenryder6317]

I have to wonder that if the Carnegie mansion had been as massive and ornate as most of the other robber barons' homes were, it also might have been too much to manage after his family died out. Perhaps because he was more modest (though certainly not skimping) with his home and its décor, the place was able to survive. His character traits whereby he wanted to live with a relatively moderate amount of material possessions (way less conspicuous consumption than his peers) and his concern for those less fortunate than he was make him a model that other wealthy men should follow.

[@marih3286]

The mansion is impressive but the man behind the mansion is even more impressive. Proves you don't have to lose your humanity, compassion and empathy just because you're wealthy. A lesson lost in today's world.

[@Kodakcompactdisc]

He wasn’t too compassionate to his workers who went on strike.

[@davidhennen7045]

💕💕💞💞

[@mccurleyrd]

Too bad it took a dam bursting to kick off his philanthropic ways.

[@missourimongoose8858]

You obviously don't know the story of Ole Andrew, giving away your wealth at the end of your life so you can buy your way into heaven isn't noble lol

[@ladyjane9980]

He did lose his humanity, compassion and empathy the day that he made his first million. It was his part in the Johnstown Flood that restored him and that was when he began to build and donate and think of the common man. But by then the damage had been done and Carnegie was never able to forgive himself.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I remember going to the Carnegie library in the small Indiana town where I grew up. Andrew Carnegie seems to have learned that doing things for others is a joyful, rewarding way to live.

[@steveschramko2386]

Why Libraries ? ? ? Carnegie's thinking can be summarized in one simple phrase.... "Give a man a fish, and he eats tonight. Teach a man HOW to fish, and he eats for the rest of his life."

[@dannysgirl1549]

I spent many hours in one of the Carnegie branch libraries in the city I grew up in. Thank God for a rich man that put his money to good use. He brought a lot of reading pleasure to many people.

[@tamieckert4548]

Thank you for your excellent account of Andrew Carnegie.What a well rounded out person in an appreciation for many ways to make all lives count, and still had plenty of good things in his life.

[@scotnick59]

Your narration is excellent; enjoy all your well-researched videos!

[@davidwolf226]

I'm so happy to learn that this venerable old beauty is still being cared for and is available for tours.

[@Dina52328]

I am so glad Mr. Carnegie’s mansion was spared from the wrecking ball and put to good use. Future generations will be able to see and admire the mansion with its historic architecture from a by-gone era. Ken, thank you for your videos and for the research you make in explaining the history of these magnificent structures. I really enjoy them. ❤️.

[@SKF358]

Have you been there? Only the outside is preserved. Cooper Hewitt gutted the interior for drywall, cubicles, and junk art shelves. Oh, in the entrance they did leave one fire place.

[@LJB103]

The organ is now the elevator!

[@nataliebutler5753]

I was at the Cooper Hewitt (2024) and much of the original interior still exists. The family library is still all original. ALL of the fireplaces, the stained glass entry in the receiving room. The ceilings, beautiful stairs, walls etc. There is so much of the original interior to enjoy seeing. It was my favorite part of visiting the Cooper Hewitt.

[@carlfrano6384]

To all the people that said these old mansions had to be torn down because they were impossibly expensive to maintain, go and see this remarkable institution.

[@wincrasher2007]

the technologies he incorporated into this building ensured it's longevity first and foremost. Also not being so ornate and trendy that it became unfashionable so quickly. Also being set back from a busy street helped and made it easier to live in.. Being inhabited by filthy rich people with a different sensibility from the common wealthy attitudes of the day. All this ensured it would be survived to be passed on for a useful purpose. Almost all the others were inherited to persons without vast fortunes and were quickly in financial straights and succumbed to the advances of greedy developers.

[@cynthiagibson6793]

Yeah really

[@wincrasher2007]

@Bruno Desrosiers i have no idea really, but remember that in those days, they didn't worry so much about danger. Being super-rich (literally the richest person on planet earth) at the time, it could have been a one-off, experimental system. Surely it was custom made for this house. If it was along the lines of being a swamp-cooler, that tech was well understood and possibly easy to build - but NYC is pretty humid, so I have my doubts.

[@debbylou5729]

They say that, but really they can be used as apartments or hotels

[@bigredc222]

The first patent for an air conditioner was in 1902, so I doubt the house had A/C when built, but it was probably added at some point. Electric was still very new, if a house even had electricity installed it was just for lights.

[@heathermiskell6]

A rich man with a big heart, virtually unknown today...wish more people were like that today! GOD Bless his spirit!!

[@mileshigh1321]

So excellent that the house still survives today!

[@orangetreevintagewaresotvw9590]

My favorite mansion. Cozy, modest for the time and place, flowers, stained glass .... and generosity. Love it.

[@joecesa1013]

No one could possibly confuse Carnegie with any of the more recent mega-wealthy. The new breed could still live lavishly and ostentatiously, give a decent wage to anyone they may employ, or be decent charitably. But there is a pissing contest with no benefit to anyone at all, whatsoever. Andrew Carnegie wasn't perfect, but he was a god compared to the selfish lot today. I've always wanted to visit the Cooper-Hewitt and you have finally given me the nudge, thanks.

[@2MuchPurple]

I am not sure what you mean. I know several billionaires from the high tech field, and they live relatively modestly considering their immense wealth, and are extremely philanthropic. One of them, an old friend, is so down to earth you wouldn't look twice at her on the street. She has her own foundation as most of them do.

[@missourimongoose8858]

Andrew literally paid bullies to beat up his workers that were on strike lol

[@xr6lad]

@@2MuchPurple foundation’s are created to create a tax break to reduce tax. They are tax havens

[@pamelas1002]

I'm glad it's still around to see!

[@heatherjones6647]

My hometown in Canada has a Carnegie library still in use and still beautiful. It is considered a heritage landmark now.

[@gilliandelledonne4713]

We had one in the city I live in. It was replaced with a larger library, but the pillars and much of the decoration was saved. As a child I loved that library. Went there at least twice a week and I"m sure it's part of why I l love to read.

[@lizlittle1641]

This mansion is really cool! I mean air conditioning and furnaces. Wow! Thank you for sharing!

[@greeneyedwarlock882]

What an INCREDIBLY MAGNANIMOUS MAN he was!!! I really get the vibes that he was a TRUE humanitarian and a genuinely good human being. And his house IS MAGNIFICENT!!! Cannot believe that it wasn't torn down!!!

[@Pammy-y7h]

Hi Ken, I want to tell you I love watching and I am fortunate enough to live in a town that has one of Carnegie’s libraries where there are no fees and there is incredible books and we’ve got the great history. It’s in Eureka Springs Arkansas. We had lots and lots of history about Mr. Carnegie, I wish that sometime you could come and check out all the history and see the library and it has a wonderful picture of him and we celebrated every year when he came and built the library

[@janawright1715]

He was an wonderful philanthropist. I’m sad that his house doesn’t carry his name, but it probably wouldn’t have bothered him.

[@HBADGERBRAD]

I love the owner behind this house. He’s now on my list for the game, “you’re throwing a small dinner party, who is on your list of guests?”. Mr. & Mrs. Carnage are now on the list. For a wealthy man to be so generous is rare. I’d love to listen to him.

[@Coffeendonuts]

The architects that designed and the craftsman that built gilded age mansions are the real hero’s. The finest wood working to adorn gilded age homes will forever remain unmatched. No nail guns, no power saws. Just incredible how they fabricated the formal rooms of those homes

[@shanecoker8566]

I so happy this house is still here for people to enjoy.

[@gregmilliken5538]

I love the old mansions like this! I have always thought Carnegie used his money much wiser than many in his position did, even up here in Maine some libraries benefited from his generosity.

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Good Work and Bravo !

[@jeanfranklin7918]

What a generous man. I applaud him. Thanks Ken.

[@jamesnaas4727]

Soo glad this gorgeous home is still standing today! 🥰🙏👌

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Giving away vast sums of money to help the needy is a great act of charity and kindness by Carnegie. But during the years he built his fortune, he did FAR more for the world with the sole intention of seeking profit. By creating wealth and jobs, Andrew Carnegie as a capitalist was a far greater asset to the world, even more than his great acts of charity.

[@HermicraftAddict]

Honestly, out of all the homes featured on here: I'd pick this one. Simple but elegant.

[@gra-emed3617]

I am from Dunfermline, the town where Andrew Carnegie came from and the cottage is still here. It has been turned in to a museum. He gifted a huge park, built the first Carnegie library, swimming baths, and a Carnegie Hall theatre in Dunfermline. All still in use today. Pretty awesome guy

[@nickditoro]

I had a chance to tour the house and attend functions there when I lived in Manhattan in the '80's. My favorite room was his office adjacent to the library, which I'm told was designed with a rather low doorway that faced Carnegie's desk. It was so low that it required an adult entering to have to stoop, which would have been akin to having to bow.

[@maizie9454]

Carnegie was 5 ft tall. I wonder how much he would have stooped

[@michaelbatts7149]

Excellent video, Ken! Thank you.

[@jamesclendon4811]

A happy ending for this house, which escaped the wrecking ball. I think it's significant that it probably survived because it was "repurposed." It serves as a museum, but not just a museum of its own magnificence, but as a venue for the display of some of the Smithsonian's collection. There's a limit on how many mansions can be saved as museums just to show off what one particular millionaire built to show off his wealth--some can (Biltmore House, the Newport "cottages", a few others) but beyond that these buildings need to serve some purpose for the modern day if they are to avoid being demolished as useless white elephants.

[@LJB103]

Saving the exterior and grounds was a good thing, but the furniture is all gone. Where the organ pipes were is now an elevator. I will admit the the enormous display of the works of Van Cleef & Arpel that was held there a number of years ago could make you forget not seeing the interior as it was. How about videos of Carnegie's last house, Shadow Brook, in Lenox, MA and one about his neighbor across the street in NYC: Otto Kahn's mansion?

[@marygumienybultman7221]

Very beautiful, love the simplicity

[@micheleadams6193]

So happy that the house is still there!!

[@kellingtonlink956]

Very impressive. I’m so glad that it still stands. I would love to see this historical mansion. Thanks for the video.

[@richardflores4560]

Thank you for this one I love it

[@baffledanderanged2101]

Thank you for a most wonderful tour and thank you for your hard work. 😊💝

[@janetgies8698]

I must say your voice-overs are perfect. The right amount of perfectly composed information that beautifully describes the homes you show us with your pleasant tone.

[@davidfaulkner8201]

A truly grand house to say the least . But the lesson here is that with all his wealth Mr Carnegie had the goodness of sprit to give back to his fellow man . In the area where I live there are two neighboring towns each with a Carnegie library as an example . Thanks to his generosity .

[@davidrahnis7341]

I've been to NYC dozens of times and never knew this existed and is open to the public. Now I can't wait to see it.

[@kerryh2096]

I love this estate. I worked here at the museum while in grad school some years ago. Its really gorgeous on the inside

[@justinreilly1]

The home is in my neighborhood, called Carnegie Hill, known as a very livable neighborhood with tons of schools, short historic buildings and access to Central Park. The Cooper Hewitt is great to visit for the backyard in the warmer months.

[@fepeerreview3150]

I've been an admirer of Carnegie all my life and in my recent and first trip to NYC I made a point to visit his mansion. The outside and the gardens were wonderful. But I was very disappointed at how few of the original interiors remains. This video shows the interiors I had hoped to see but which are now almost completely lost.

[@jb-fb4od]

Nice to see a building like this still standing. I would love to visit it!!

[@lisariggs8947]

Very interesting! I always enjoy these presentations as they shed light on so many aspects and not just the house. Great job, and thank you very much. Keep up the great work 👍

[@SandiaPeaks]

Another great video! Thanks

[@stevemartin6934]

Yes ,, saved another great building !!!!!!!!!

[@buzzkincaid5521]

Love the Cooper Hewitt , interesting shows, well thought through. My heart wishes the Gilded age houses ,that were demolished ,enjoyed the same after Iife .

[@Elizabeth-rq1vi]

It was/is livable. With the half height panels the light from the windows wasn’t sucked into dark paneling but reflected off the upper walls. I like it & hope to check it out when we’re on our travels.

[@Gizathecat2]

The Carnegie Mansion sings, “I’m still standing!”

[@jamesclendon4811]

I love the look of this house. I hope you will also visit what is to me the most visually appealing of the surviving gilded age mansions--Westbury House/Old Westbury Gardens--on Long Island. It's beautifully maintained and open to the public. If the name doesn't ring a bell to some people they'll probably recognize it when they see it. It shows up frequently in movies and ads as the quintessential rich man's mansion, and I'm sure the fees those appearances generate contribute significantly to its upkeep.

[@StevenTorrey]

Wow, it is one of thee few millionaire mansions to be sparred the wrecking ball. It also looks spacious, unlike so many millionaire mansions that are built on small lots, so small buildings.

[@scottmay1966]

It is so nice to know that that exquisite mansion is still standing today. So many of those turn of the century mansions are now only memories.

[@reneemb4319]

I’m so glad that the house was not destroyed! Carnegie did not give away all of his money- but present day biliionaires should follow Carnegie’s lead in giving away some of their money to make life better for humanity.

[@patrickboland6102]

he was a Scottish Methodist who really believed that a rich man cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

[@markwagner4909]

Very happy it’s still standing

[@danbowman9294]

Always fascinating content. Its amusing that so many of these mansions featured intricate pipe organs. At least Carnegie seems to have enjoyed his. A very sober interior, I'm sure the wood panelling was top notch. The stained glass skylights were awesome. Thank you for your work.

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@billy1673]

Great video about a great man and his house. Love hearing stories of good things happening to good people!

[@StamperWendy]

I'd like to visit it. Thanks, Ken!

[@yardarm5]

Lovely details, great work

[@ItsJustLisa]

The home he built is beautiful. I’d love to see it someday. While he was a good man at heart, Carnegie didn’t associate with good men. Most of his philanthropy came after the Homestead Strike in 1892. Carnegie didn’t like conflict and supported unions, but his associate Henry Clay Frick thrived on it. Carnegie left Frick to deal with the strikers at their Homestead Steel Mill and his heavy hand ended up further damaging Carnegie’s reputation, which suffered after the Johnstown Flood in 1889. I think both of those events heavily influenced how deeply he’d go into philanthropy at a time when his peers did little to none.

[@anthonypopola5773]

After Berkman shot Frick, nobody gave a shit about unions, I don’t blame them

[@karenryder6317]

I've often wondered how two men with such different moral values could be partners.

[@clairwaucaush7225]

One of the few house stories with a happy ending. I very much want to visit this house now. If you look at old bridges, the beams of many still say Carnegie Steel

[@doctorstrangelove9487]

Got to love the class and style, things that are lacking in new building designs.

[@dr.velmasablan3611]

The preservation of this beautiful, timepiece of American success, MUST BE PRESERVED! Here in America, we don't have monarchies and royalties, our history is embedded in the many success stories of men like Andrew Carnegie. May God bless him and may he rest in peace in God's holy light.

[@jamesmooney8933]

This narrative omits alot. Carnegie was a Western Union delivery boy. A the Pennsylvania Railroad manager in Pittsburgh by the name of Scott liked Carnegie and hired him as a clerk. Carnegie became Scott's personnel assistant. Scott let Carnegie in on a business deal. Scott had Carnegie invest in a trucking company that delivered Pennsylvania Railroad freight to place without a Railroad track. This was a crooked deal, and it made Carnegie a lot of money. During the Civil War, Scott recommended Carnegie to manage the Union Railroads. Carnegie got a lot of kick back money from this position. After the War, Carnegie was a wealth man. Carnegie went back to Scotland and built a home. In Scotland, he learned of a new way of making steel called the Bessemer Converter. He returned to Pittsburgh and bought into a steel company to learn the business. Eventually he got a contract making Steel rails for Railroad track for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He called his steel mill the EDGAR TOMPSON WORKS. Edgar Thompson was the President of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Steel Mill was located in Braddock Pa. and is one of the few steel mills still operating in the Pittsburgh area. Then he became a partner with Frick a coke producer. Frick was a ruthless business man. Together they built Carnegie Steel. Eventually Carnegie bought out Frick. It was a contentious buy out. Carnegie tried to buy out Frick with a bad deal. Frick argued with Carnegie and chased him out of his office threatening to kill Carnegie. Frick went to court and got a very good price. Frick also had a large house in New York City. After Carnegie bought out Frick., J.P. Morgan bought out Carnegie Steel and built United States Steel Company. Now Carnegie was extremely wealthy, and he started building libraries all over the country. Carnegie was not liked in Pittsburgh, because of the working conditions in steel mills and the Homestead Strike. Also he was not fair to his investors. He never paid out dividends. He kept reinvesting in his steel mills. When a new technology came along he would get rid of the old machine, and build the new machine. Carnegie was not a very liked man.

[@azshooter348]

I'm glad the house still exists today.

[@camilogomezkeep2324]

Beautiful house. I like that left money to the people that worked for him.

[@bethknight4436]

So interesting- thank you!

[@KatieReadsKoziesAndMore]

I’ve been in three Carnegie Libraries in the Greater Cincinnati area. They are still magnificent. Two are still operated as libraries and one is used as a high-brow community center. I have been there for several art shows and theater productions.

[@mikechaplin1566]

It seems like his conversion to philanthropy came after a time when his company was very brutal to their workers, forcing them to work longer and longer hours for less and less pay, and they worked in extremely unsafe conditions, with workers dying at work on a regular basis. Ultimately the workers went on strike, and his company hired sharpshooters who shot and killed multiple striking workers. Much of this happened when he was in Scotland on a vacation, he ended up getting a lot of bad national press as a robber baron, and eventually decided to sell the company as you described. So somehow there was a conversion, maybe due to the bad press he got for running the company the way he did.

[@rahimshahid1937]

WOW FLAWLESSLY BEAUTIFUL MANSION R.I.P KING 👑👑👑👑

[@JudithMatuska]

Carnegie financially supported the building Libraries, there is one located in Whiting, Indiana, beautiful building.

[@joeelmore2728]

It's nice to know that this mansion has survived when so many others have not. The owner left a legacy for which we are truely thankful for.

[@7777voyles]

I remember going to the Carnegie mansion. It was amazing I loved it.

[@patricialong5767]

Utterly amazing!

[@lcurtsinger4313]

Thank you, enjoyed it

[@robertawilkes6531]

Very nice that it was not torn down

[@gkvogt]

Thanks for another great video.

[@bigredc222]

Great work as usual.

[@nycstarport8542]

At least it is still standing. It is one of my Many favorite museums.

[@wendellellison3482]

Grateful that his mansion was not demolished. We all have our faults, but he did try to make right with the world - donating so much to so many! He never forgot his roots. A poor man at heart, with a rich man's wallet!!!

[@gwtwvivien]

I'm not from USA and I love old mansions. Is this mansion in New York? It is splendid!!!!💖

[@treestandsafety3996]

Ahh mahhn...I missed out seeing this house last time I was in NYC!

[@juant3969]

I live here in NYC and I’ve been to this place twice and they kept the original features and the place is massive

[@randyrice1429]

So glad this mansion was put to good use and not destroyed as so many others were.

[@Broadway789]

I’ve been there. Stunning.

[@Yusa9204]

I have toured the house and it is worth visiting. House contains many drawings from the Disney company which are fascinating to a retired draftsman.

[@yasminmayerlyinc]

Ive would love to visit this one day! Love it!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@daveyjenni9265]

Thank you They don't build homes like that anymore man you'll talking beauty.

[@barbaraghelardi8436]

Across 91st street from Carnegie is the Otto Kahn mansion. It is as classy as class gets. It is now a girls' high school, but you can still see the elegance of it. One can have good taste with all the money these guys had.

[@derricklangford4725]

I like the idea of an organist arriving early and me waking up to the sounds of a pipe organ, or I guess I could just program my phone for that 🤔

[@SKF358]

Too bad they didn't preserve the interior too. The Cooper Hewitt gutted the insides to store junk art. But who wants to see how the richest man of the Gilded Age really lived? We need more dry wall, cubicles, and junk shelves.

[@ganymededarling]

Oof. That really sucks

[@danbowman9294]

Yep, "preserved" usually means gutted.

[@karenryder6317]

@@danbowman9294 Better gutted than raised. At least some part of his home remains, compared to so many other gilded age relics.

[@billboyer1244]

Finally an incredible mansion that was not destroyed.

[@suncitypro1]

Tremendous mansion and a tremendous MAN!

[@timothykosto9806]

Certainly much more palatial than the rental on Kirpatrick Street in Braddock, PA where my underpaid immigrant grandparents eaked out a meager living while working at the Edgar Thompson Works of Carnegie Steel!!

[@nailadee]

At last, a man who understood that with wealth comes great responsibility. It’s wonderful to know that what he built is still standing while so many others’ homes are dust.

[@hititorquitit2990]

Donna, with all due respect, I'm leaving you nothing.

[@asylumlover]

AT LEAST THIS TIME I CAN SAY ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER NO DEMOLITION!!!!

[@tam7509]

It’s beautiful

[@vinekeep1]

a Carnegie library was built here in Suva, Fiji. The masonry 'art work', the Carnegie name was covered with plyboard by the City clowns who then painted 'suva city' on it.

[@j.sayler6330]

People familiar with Mr. Carnegie know that his name is pronounced Car-NEG'-ee, with the stress on the second syllable. For example, the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, or the many Carnegie libraries. The name is not pronounced CAR'-ne-gee. How fine to see that the house in your video is preserved!

[@shavonnestacia2865]

Had that argument with alot of people as a NY'er when I lived in Pittsburgh, But I believe it's the opposite.... Pittsburgh is the only place that I've heard it pronounced Car-Neg-e....

[@j.sayler6330]

Carnegie had a major presence in Pittsburgh. Since Carnegie Steel was in Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Tech, the university he began, was there too, they should know how to pronounce his name!

[@karenryder6317]

@@j.sayler6330 It's true that this is a good argument for emphasizing the NEG syllable in his name (rather than the first syllable CAR,) and it does seem that stressing the second syllable might have been Andrew's preference, but I'm curious how it is pronounced in his homeland of Scotland.

[@TT-nh2od]

I bet he felt like the king of NY having a house that grand with an actual yard