What Happened to America's Millionaires' Rows?

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

It's been a few years since I read Fortune's Children, The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt by Arthur T. Vanderbilt, II. It was fascinating. If I remember right, Cornelius was never accepted by NY society. He was too rough around the edges. I felt sorry for some of his children. One of the things I remember was how Alva Vanderbilt (wife of William K.) tried to outdo Mrs. Astor. She spent all her husband's money on the house on 5th Ave. which ended up being demolished because they couldn't give it away. It was so expensive, and no one would even buy the marble, etc. inside. Great video on this subject.

[@jamesinbaltimore5487]

Wonderful video, as always. My hometown of Erie, PA has a fairly intact Millionaire's Row on West 6th Street from Perry Square to Liberty Street. A precious few are still single-family homes; some are apartments and others have been wonderfully repurposed. I always walk or drive it whenever I'm home.

[@LJB103]

Small nits: the "triple palace" was built by Commodore Vanderbilt's son William Henry; and the Kimball mansion in Chicago is one of the two connected houses used as the US Soccer Federation headquarters. I live outside one of the cities lucky enough to have its Millionaires' Row almost totally intact: Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, MA. Excellent video.

[@ThisHouse]

Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I’ve submitted a correction, which should be live shortly. As for the Kimball mansion and the adjoining property, they were reportedly sold in 2023 as a pair of private residences.

[@LJB103]

@@ThisHouse News to me, but you are correct. Thank you for that information.

[@anteeker]

I think it goes without saying, I'd save all the millionaires rows if at all possible. The architechural interest alone would add so much to our cities. It's a shame more of the mansions weren't repurposed for another use.

[@bpekim1]

Thanks for your overview. I am a Chicagoan and have not seen a comprehensive overview of Prairie Avenue (as well as the Gold Coast) other than of the superstars of wealth at the time. Interested in the lives and contributions of the lesser known wealthy as well. Love to see any relevant news pieces from the time about construction, events, reuse, demolitions, etc.

[@drealake3281]

You never disappoint. Hope all is well. Happy New Year! I love all the mansions! Not sure I can pick a favorite.

[@ThisHouse]

Happy New Year 🎈🎆🎊

[@lesal.1373]

Millionaires rows are some of my favorite episodes. Thank you! I was fortunate to grow up in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Henry Frick's Clayton is in Point Breeze. Millionaires row in Pittsburgh actually went from Shady side to Point Breeze, following Fifth Avenue onto Penn Avenue. Clayton is at Penn and Homewood Aves. The H. J. Heinz estate, Greenlawn was on Penn Avenue between N. Lang and Murtland Aves. Point Breeze often gets mistaken for Squirrel Hill, which is the neighborhood just south of Point Breeze.

[@David-tm8sl]

So many great homes lost. Glad a few have survived to remind us of another era.

[@Robin-g7q5d]

Happy New Year, Ken and all “Old House Lovers”! 🎉🥂🍾🔔 My paternal grandmother worked “in one of the Big houses on Fifth Avenue” in NYC. She would never say who owned it and I would imagine it is long gone, since it would be over 110 years ago that she worked there. Thanks, again, Ken, for another terrific year looking at Grand houses! I live near Lakewood, NJ where the George J. Gould Estate “Georgian Court” still stands! It is now Georgian Court University with many of the original buildings about the campus. John D. Rockefeller’s house is long gone but his estate is our County Park as per his Will.

[@jamesn.economou9922]

What I find odd, is that all of these places, all over the country, were built around the same time. 1870-1920. Very few before, and never after. Just those 50 years, to build the brick and stone cities of America, and then we started to tear it down, as soon we saw what we had done, only to replace it with particle board and plastic. If you look at the history of building practices in this country, that statement, stands up.

[@Carvello20]

YOUR HISTORY IS ALL LIES, THATS WHY. I wrote this in capital letters because they've covered up previous civilizations

[@dmd5645]

The first picture, center!!!. Brush Park District, downtown Detroit!. I LOVE that house!. I'd rebuild it if I could!!. The one on the right still stands, but restored to a lass than what it was.

[@bobbysmith4370]

Thank you for this vlog.

[@khaterehlunden5136]

Thank you very much

[@Connie-e9x]

This is a treat... for I live in northern Canada out in the bush.... with no homes near me..... thank you Ken.. videos always appreciated

[@mikenixon2401]

Interesting perspective, Ken. Good report. Thanks. Added: For me I have an attachment to the Central West End in St. Louis.

[@ThisHouse]

Having been all over the country, I still count the CWE as one of the most beautiful places in the US. Glad you enjoyed this video, cheers!

[@cliffhoelzer6895]

A great movie to watch to see this change and its affect on the guilded age millionaires and the inevitable change and time is "The Magnificent Ambersons " A fantastic movie by Orsen Wells whi considered it his best movie!! You won't be disappointed!!🎉🎉🎉

[@khaterehlunden5136]

And happy new year 🎉

[@ThisHouse]

Happy New Year 🎈🎆 🎊

[@commandoxy]

This is the perfect history lesson for New Years Eve. Thanks to you .Happy 2025!

[@maryanncurfman3795]

Such an amazing crash course in American history. What a tragedy that we have failed to cherish these absolutely magnificent creations. Our cities have become dumps filled with block buildings creating a trashy environment of ugliness

[@wmperkins25]

What always amazes me is the length that most of these great houses stood. With all the money spent and the great artistry put into them, the find detail, European craftmanship and materials, most of these houses lasted barely one generation. Standing for such a short time only tells me of the elusiveness of riches.

[@valeriepayne8899]

Millionaires Row came to be at the detriment of of the every day workers.

[@lawrencesiskind3554]

True, so true. On February 25, 1913, the 16th Amendment officially became part of the Constitution, granting Congress constitutional authority to levy taxes on corporate and individual income. Taxation was a significant nail in the coffin of extravagance, but through progressivism we were this spared a revolution!

[@petermacdonald3061]

Hi great topic and review of the various grand houses of the gilded era. I am a great fan of baux art style and admired many featured here. Than you Fascination delve into architectural history Peter Mac Donald (Penang Malaysia ).

[@jill-ti7oe]

HAPPY NEW YEAR. 😄👍

[@ThisHouse]

Happy New Year 🎈🎆🎊

[@dirtysnkrs]

Nice video, although I was hoping for more than just a cursory mention of St Louis. I think St. Louis has managed to hang on to more of its Gilded Age mansions and millionaire streets than possibly any other in the country. They didn't get redeveloped into high rise apartments like New York nor abandoned like Detroit. St Louis actually invented the idea of private streets where the street was taken out of the public domain and owned by the block of homeowners (for better or for worse).

[@ThisHouse]

We recently covered Portland and Westmoreland places: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZWpY4qYj56omas A few years ago we covered St. Louis Place as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6u9d4hmjsmMmLs

[@TroyBrinson]

Nice to see a nod (however small) to your roots with an STL name drop. The neighborhood across from the Chase Park Plaza, or along Lindle across from Forest Park Or heck… even CPP or the homes of Williams, Price or Burroughs would be a nice refrain

[@ThisHouse]

I covered the neighborhood across from Chase Park Plaza last week (Portland and Westmoreland Places). Here’s that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZWpY4qYj56omassi=jW_hB0PRa2jsqbAo

[@roncross1945]

Many good comments here. I appreciate so much your giving “the world “ the opportunity to know about these fantastic houses. What I always think of seeing these opulent places is how brief life can be. The Bible says, “lay up treasure in heaven”. I hope that I can do that.

[@HX79]

Love the video. Didn't you guys start the channel while you lived in St. Louis - then you moved to Chicago? How's it going? We're considering moving to STL or Chicago (amongst a few other cities). We like them both. What are your thoughts on the differences between the two?

[@ThisHouse]

Chicagoland is wonderful! The two cities are very different, but culturally similar. I would highly recommend spending a few days in each to see which one best fits what you’re looking for. With Chicago being much larger than STL, there is a lot more to see and do here. However, STL has a quaint charm that is easy to fall in love with.

[@HX79]

@ThisHouse thanks for the advice! Glad you're doing well. We still love your channel.

[@lawrencesiskind3554]

You can certainly get a ton more house for your money in STL than Chicago, though that's for a reason. Chicago thrives economically as few cities do.

[@HX79]

@@lawrencesiskind3554 good point. We visit both cities several times a year. Definitely different vibes. We love the historic homes of STL and they're more within our reach....but there is definitely more excitement in CHI. For all the negativity online about Chicago, its actually a thriving metro overall with a balanced economy. Its just not growing as fast as other places - but that doesn't mean its declining precipitously. I do find it interesting that CHI metro is getting another look from folks now that the luster of FL and the south is wearing off. Turns out those places are governed by the laws of supply and demand just like the older, more densely populated cities....property taxes in those areas going up along with home insurance and the sheer inconvenience of the hurricane threat. Not appealing to me.

[@sprague49]

Millionaires' Row in my home town was sliced into during the interstate highway boom of the 1950's & 60's. Thankfully some of its grand homes on either side dodged the wreaking ball and now serve as law offices, etc.

[@pices73]

Could you do one on Evanston, IL? They have lots of victorian houses

[@ThisHouse]

I can put together something more comprehensive on Evanston. I’ve only covered a couple houses there, so far. I’ll add it to my list, cheers!

[@bonniebonham5178]

We still have millionaires row neighborhoods left in St. Louis although we lost so much from them blowing these neighborhoods up to lay pavement for Highways. At least we were able to preserve some of our mansions and their neighborhoods from this opulent period.

[@chrisrainman5887]

I am DETROIT we have made A COME BACK

[@angiemehrtens1320]

St Louis .

[@MrHorse-by3mp]

Really nicely done video like everything on this channel. It's a shame there are so few pictures of these areas in their decline as they are morbidly fascinating to me. For anyone who shares my interest I recommend Googling "Historic Pittsburgh Bennett Brothers Auto Wreckers." It shows the former home of the founder of Hussey Copper in a state of total dereliction and surrounded by, and covered with, 1910s and '20s automotive junk. It is roughly where Shadyside Hospital stands today for anyone familiar with the city. I would post a link but I'm not sure KZbin allows it. Hussey Copper was located next to Jones & Laughlin on the Monongahela River in what was probably the worst slum in Pittsburgh's history (and that is saying something.) Originally known as Soho (though I've never heard anyone call it by that name) it's now mostly covered in roads and interchanges leading to the Birmingham Bridge and would probably be called West Oakland most commonly now. Anyway, Happy New Year and keep up the great work on the channel.

[@alfredhitchcockinafez687]

So was that a canter-in restaurant at Tryon Hall? Did they have horsehops on hand to serve?

[@carly8056]

DRINKING GAME: Every time you hear the word “intricate”. Seriously, get a thesaurus.

[@trevorrobinson2941]

Even if you were a millionaire today these homes would be unaffordable because they would tax you to death. I know a few people who had inherited homes like this tell me that they can afford to live there but the property taxes were outrageous, and in modern 2025 now our homeowners insurance is also unaffordable.

[@furtim1]

Short Answer - Income taxes Long Answer - The gross expansion of the government and its consumption of well over half of all the country's production and the confiscation of trillions of dollars every year from small businesses, entrepreneurs, and all prospective successes that may have built such palaces.

[@jamesrobinson1022]

The Great Depression, Urban Renewal, white flight, rise of suburbs, modernization, conservatism of assets, rise of high tech industries such as telecommunications, use of automobiles and planes that made it unnecessary to be tied to one area or city, social class changed from being wealthy and showing it of to getting wealthy from showing off(actors/ muscians and athletes).

[@rogerdale5451]

look up the pronunciation of eccentric...

[@Carvello20]

Bullshit content. These building are all far older than you suggest