What Happened to the American Princess and her Manhattan Palace? - The Story of Emilie Grigsby

If you were offered everything you ever wanted, would you accept? In this video we are exploring the mansion of Emilie Grigsby, or more importantly, how she earned the nickname, the American princess.
Location: Manhattan, New York
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What Happened to the American Princess and her Manhattan Palace? - The Story of Emilie Grigsby
• What Happened to the A...
Photos from: Public Domain, New York Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Music from Epidemic Sound

[@jedwalker4543]

The people who built these houses are almost as interesting as the houses themselves

[@CulturalOasis]

Eh

[@jasonshumate6456]

Actually they are more interesting...

[@dennisbranham5153]

Yeah it's like they were built by another civilization besides ours in our square boxes 👍

[@AnonymousLight]

@@dennisbranham5153 you sir I am following what your saying and agree.

[@jean-marccloutier4309]

created a lot of jobs, an Era for Crasftman and artists.

[@wesderer]

How in the world, netflix didn't make a series about this girls, it's so amazing and good. 4 seasons at least 🤣

[@desyreemalig9329]

you better write to Netflix

[@BennyB5555]

Unfortunately, NF typically doesn’t do anything past 2 seasons 🙄(boooo)

[@desyreemalig9329]

@@BennyB5555 - not true

[@steve-oh4342]

that requires knowledge and talent.....so...

[@BennyB5555]

@@desyreemalig9329 yes true - it’s a thing.

[@alieganhouse2442]

“Emily had noticed the perverted gaze of the old man” Sorry but I DIED at this part LOL 😂 so funny- but in all seriousness, what a fascinating story! Once again, great video Ken! Keep up the good work! 😃

[@ivanolsen7966]

yep .... another female who refused to honour the wedding ring on another woman's hand

[@karenryder6317]

@@ivanolsen7966 I guess she was blinded by dreams of personal acquisitiveness.

[@lamarravery4094]

She was the original Anna Nicole Smith.

[@gelinguzman9743]

@@ivanolsen7966 ===q qwerty

[@ericking8661]

@@ivanolsen7966 And another man who refused to honor the wedding ring he placed on his wife's finger.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

For many years I've enjoyed stories, both fact and fiction, about New York high society but, somehow, have never heard of the story of Emilie Grigsby. Thank you for introducing me to a new---and real life!---story!

[@sarahhuston1567]

I was just about to comment, this sounds like a perfect HBO series!! Never heard of her but i would totally watch a show made about her

[@jacques8801]

do you know where i can find stories about nyc high society? thx

[@johnscanlan9335]

I'm very familiar with the history of New York's late 19th and early 20th Century then nouveau riche and I too have never heard the slightest reference to this story.

[@spark5012]

Yeah, I wonder if this is a real story.

[@annonymously331]

You should visit Tom millers blog Daytonian at Manhattan

[@ShelleeGraham]

Miss Emilie Busbey Grigsby was really an interesting personality and woman. She went after what she wanted and succeeded. And she seemed very happy, popular and intelligent. Not a bad life at all.

[@mikehughes4969]

Somebody needs to make a movie about this woman.

[@antonfarquar8799]

I was on the edge of my seat thru this entire video for fear that she would wind up destitute living in some cheap hotel - thank God she must have had enough sense to stay solvent. One point comes thru loud & clear - when it comes to women, physical beauty is one thing, but a women who is intelligent and well informed and has a keen mind is doubley attractive.

[@653j521]

You don't think being rich, rich, rich beyond avarice also had something to do with her attractiveness?

[@eshbena]

@@653j521 If they were all saying that every conversation was poorer without her presence, then her brains and wit were what drew people.

[@antonfarquar8799]

@@653j521 she was not worth a dime when she met Yerkes - if you have never met a women who had the intellectual refinements that Emilie had you cannot appreciate what Mr Yerkes Sr. saw in addition to her physical beauty . He allowed her to spend his money because she knew what she was buying - she was not just some barroom trollop.

[@stunnedmulletblah9714]

@@antonfarquar8799 that's a nice-ish way of telling someone that their taste is all in their mouth.

[@Musick79]

So she was an intelligent adulteress.

[@nailadee]

What a unique home! I hate that it was torn down, it seems progress has no future sense in preserving something unique.

[@rightweaponry908]

Right! I would love to see that building in person it looks soo unique

[@michaelplunkett8059]

@@rightweaponry908 Alas, the lost vanderbilt mansions make this look like a dump.

[@hadochaddockson4290]

newyork would turn in to european cities in the end then. just a bunch of old houses.

[@krystolred347]

Nothing is sacred.

[@ryanschaff2507]

So why didn’t you use your millions of dollars to buy it, restore it, and let it sit there!?!?

[@CookieEspresso]

What a woman. She used her looks to her advantage together with book knowledge. It's not easy to climb ranks (even today) in two different countries.

[@johnr797]

Uh yes it is. Just make an Instagram wearing tight clothing.

[@Suntan38]

Man its so sickening that this gorgeous house castle was torn down. What a shame

[@margyeoman3564]

A girl raised in private schools, already knowing at 16 what she needed to go after!! Wow! Her mother must have impressed upon her how to avoid the long fall into poverty , that she herself was so afraid of. But what a choice to keep the income up, instead of marrying again after her husband died. She had to be a piece of work herself.

[@PatrickFDolan]

Most people were already married with a few children by sixteen back then. Life expectancy was very low back then. I'm thinking around 35 or 40.

[@tylerbhumphries]

@@PatrickFDolan More like 60 and older the closer they get to being born in the 1900s unless they were poor and exposed to toxins (for example factory workers) and diseases. I own a house that was ompleted in 1899 and I’ve been doing research on all the people who owned it during the years. The people who lived in my house were upper middle class to middle class and then working class around the 1950s. The people born in the middle 1800s who lived in my house lived into their 60s or a little longer but the people who were born into the late 1800s to early 1900s all lived very long lives. I even had a guy who managed to survive fighting in both World Wars and died in his 80s. A woman who lived in my house was born in 1909 died in in 1990. She died 5 years before I was born and we went to the same high school.

[@PatrickFDolan]

@@tylerbhumphries I looked it up. Life expectancy in 1900 was 46.3 years for both genders.

[@tylerbhumphries]

@@PatrickFDolan that's the average of everyone. But like I said, the people who lived in my house were upper-middle-class to middle class and they lived to be pretty old. Even my family, who still lived close to the plantations where we were enslaved on, so I know life wasn't easy for them and they lived longer than 40. Even 46 is older than what you originally said and just two years later, people in the US were expected to live to 53 on average. The more money you had, the longer you were expected to live because you didn't come into contact with so many toxic things and you had better access to healthcare. What I have noticed about marriage is that people did get married younger, but from what I've seen it was still 18-20 something. I know my great-grandmother (born in 1898) was married at 16 but again, they were still living near the plantation and working on that land. All 5 of the families that have owned my house (even my grandparents) were all married in their 20s. And their children were also married in their 20s. The oldest match was born in 1862 (died in 1923) and 1861(died in 1944) and they were married in 1889. But then again, they were well off. And that's the pattern I've noticed as I've helped others research their families. I work for a library. Poor people tended to get married young, have children at younger ages, and die earlier. A lot of this has to do with money and access. My family married young and had children young because they needed more people to work the fields and there was still a strong belief in marriage. As my family has moved through the generations and moved to the city and out of the deep south, we got married later and had children later.

[@toomanymarys7355]

@@PatrickFDolan That's nonsense. You should check actual average marriage age.

[@nathanielanderson4898]

Wow. She died a year before I was born. This is a beautiful story. We are all born into a situation. Nobody has a choice about the matter. Some people have their noses so stuck up in the air, that they don't see the value, talents, and abilities of others.

[@ServandoIV]

if ever i end up with a house this extravagant, i will make sure i walk around with a crown

[@timdraper4559]

Just discovered your channel and I find these US old houses fascinating. I'm from the UK where we are awash with them so it's sad to find out that most of yours seem to have been demolished.

[@lila6117]

Really interesting story. So sad that the building Is gone but pleased that Emilie in the end was happy.

[@kathyw800]

I am saddened that her home was torn down. It would have made a very interesting museum, so tourists could take a look at high society in America from long ago.

[@HermicraftAddict]

I love her obsession with antiques but cutting old tapestries? That's a hard no.

[@johnvonundzu2170]

I'm guessing tapestries cut up for upholstery were already damaged and more use in pieces than as a whole.

[@bigredc222]

@@johnvonundzu2170 You don't know that, you're just making that up because it sounds better.

[@johnvonundzu2170]

@@bigredc222 Tapestries have been cut down & been reused for centuries. Fabric with localized wear or damage is often reused being too good to discard. The patina of age old that fabric has doesn't hurt either.

[@bigredc222]

@@johnvonundzu2170 My impression of her would be that she would have no problem buying a pristine antique tapestry and having it cut up to cover a few chairs.

[@thedativecase9733]

Yes 'I'm with you on that.

[@carolhofhine560]

Smart woman. It's too bad that they took down the building. Interesting story.

[@katherinechase3674]

She was set up for life (financially) at such a young age. Interesting that she never married. She was a free bird!

[@Beaneabean]

@@katherinechase3674Why get married when she got everything she wanted without having to get married? I have no idea how she thought of all of that at 16. If i had that wit and cunningness at 16, I would have found a rich old married man and done the same. Me now knowing that men love little girls means I could have had the world as a teen lmao

[@johnmiller8975]

Ken, I beg to differ on the Rose Bedroom. Those chairs are embroidered with Napoleon I's personal signet. that would make them 1st Empire not Louis. If they are genuine they were probably worth more than the tapestries.

[@SkyBlu868]

Just discovered your channel and really enjoying it. Well-done with the thorough research and quality.

[@SpanishEclectic]

Interesting to see that long, skinny house! I cringed at the cutting up of tapestries, though. The story sounds like something out of an Edith Wharton novel. Scandals are nothing new!

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Edith wrote the world she knew.

[@johnvonundzu2170]

Tapestries suffer with time and frequently end up being cut up & re-used, it's been going on for centuries.

[@garycraigart3579]

Thank you for that very interesting and unusual glimpse into the glamorous and unknown (to me) past of this wonderful character!

[@nursenana4430]

I just came across your channel. This story really grabbed my attention as I live in brown county ohio. Brown county is about 30 miles east of Cincinnati. Our history is always interesting, thanks for sharing this.

[@christopherkraft1327]

Thanks for sharing the fascinating story about Emilie Grigsby & her New York mansion!!! 👍👍🙂

[@christopherkraft1327]

@@martinswillaim3146 Howdy!!

[@loribragg2947]

Wow, what a story! She lived life in the fast lane and drove like Paul Newman, apparently. 😂 I would venture to say she had a very high IQ, understood human nature completely, and had more charm than the law allowed. Judging by the photos, she had a great sense of humor and fun. For some reason I'm thinking of the film 'Harold & Maude.' 😜

[@eily_b]

YES, she looks a lot like Maude. You are right.

[@LJB103]

This was a house that I was not familiar with (nor the Yerkes mansion either). Thank you for the information.

[@dennisbranham5153]

Some of the back stories you get on these houses is hinky but these buildings man they're just incredible 👍 great channel content thank you I'm in 👍🤓

[@AuthorLHollingsworth]

It's amazing what a person can have or do when they have money 💰👸💰👸💰

[@jasbegs1258]

Thank you for this - this story is a movie just waiting to happen.

[@kiliipower355]

"Sugardaddy" The life goal of young women, to find a rich benefactor and never have to work again. I saw a programme a few years ago, I think from England. A woman was specifically looking for wealthy men who would keep her. The sad thing was, she had a daughter from another relationship. This girl was 10 years old and her "career aspiration" was to live like her mother. And the mother supported this. It was probably the same with Emily. Her mother specifically trained her for this

[@katherinechase3674]

I imagine so, I was thinking the same thing. But...not everyone has the constitution to handle all that. She must have been pretty tough- So many people in this "woke" generation especially, are riddled with anxiety-

[@joyceadams5765]

This video was a breathe of fresh air!

[@BrandyD1777]

Why do we tear down historical places? This could have been restored. In the USA, we keep nothing while you cross the pond & see beautiful architect that is thousands of years old whether is semi ruined state or restored. We must hold on to history of any kind.

[@StonedustandStardust]

Thank you, I enjoyed hearing Emilie's story.

[@thedawneffect]

Fascinating woman, thanks for spotlighting her!!!!!

[@johansjournal]

she would be a kardashian nowadays

[@gloriahufnagel5556]

I’m so glad I found this channel.., I love the stories and the stories behind the homes…

[@deeceepnw]

Fascinating story! What secrets those walls held.

[@leslienold7719]

This was well told. Thank you

[@athena5954]

This was well put together and reserched.thank you for the upload💚

[@oaklandcookie]

ALL RIGHT, THIS HOUSE! Subscribed!

[@yeshprab]

What a fascinating and deeply engrossing video! But alas, everything, no matter how beautiful and engrossing, and every fairy tale also will end, not always as "they lived happily ever after." Thanks for uploading this video. I enjoyed watching it. Yesh Prabhu, Bushkill, PA

[@pameladulany1457]

Love old amazing homes and history keep them coming.

[@DanieltheTruebadour]

"Emilie Grigsby picks up the rice in a church where a wedding has been, Lives in a dream ..."

[@samhelsel443]

Great job. Fascinating story. First thing that came to mind when I heard her name was "Eleanor Rigby"

[@guineveredecker4349]

Wow. I am a Grigsby and this is the first I've ever heard of her. Interesting video.

[@damogranheart5521]

The Lady sounds like a real pistol! I don't believe anyone in her presence could be bored. Thank you very much.🦋🐈‍⬛🍃

[@jonrussell1690]

Great video!!! Didn’t know this but she was definitely an independent woman.

[@andrewmacgregor6305]

You’re a good man Ken people need to get help if they are feeling hopeless! Thank you for supplying that contact. I was a patrolman for 18 years and have been to many many suicides and the damage it does is unbelievable and is so ugly. It affects the first responders and police too. Thank you again

[@carolyn8271]

Fascinating history! Thank you, loved it!

[@twistoffate4791]

I am pretty sure that cutting up centuries-old tapestries to use for reuphostering chairs de-values the tapestries, but I guess she didn't care. I also wonder if the relationship between the rich old guy & his heartbroken son became cold as ice after Emelie chose the elder. Anyway, I sure hope her music room with gold-leafed keys was at least enjoyed by the most celebrated musicians of the day. After all the photo of the guest room looked quite lovely.

[@gravettian]

Furniture of reclaimed tapestry 😂

[@johnvonundzu2170]

Doubting the cut-up tapestries were in pristine condition; they were probably partially damaged and not really ia a fit state for display before being cut up. There are many chopped up tapestries out there - hanging on a wall for centuries is hazardous!

[@campin_sasquatch7740]

Emilie Grigsby, the original sugar baby 🤣

[@rogersledz6793]

Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!

[@MariaGarcia-eg4wk]

This kind of stories gets my attention because l always wonder what ever happen to those people and how they end up and what ever happen to does people thanks for the interesting story, hope you have some more to hear.

[@anacelia9481]

What does it matter if you gain the whole but lose your soul.

[@Jmpd1117]

Love your stories. Always carefully researched. Their is one room however, that rather than being Louis XIV is Empire style. I would even venture to ask if those chairs with Napoleon’s crest were actually his.

[@BlackStump172]

I was trying to work out who the N was ! Thank you !

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

It is nice for the story to have a cheerful end, apart from the demolition of the building. Thank you for the video!

[@jewel8425]

How on earth could anyone tear something like that down???

[@sharonmchugh7730]

Fun to learn these histories

[@janedee6488]

At least she enjoyed herself. Wonder who she left her money to.

[@katherinechase3674]

No doubt the state would be happy to have it-

[@CeruleanTalon1]

That was so wonderful! It is pleasant to have a happy ending.

[@karenhill3970]

Neat story... similar to Miss Nesbits'. Neat ole apt house still standing...but so sorry her house torn down...I think we should preserve our old structure s ....I live in a classic neighborhood I n my town ..also grew up in one in Ft Worth .. so much History...my house is vintage also...I n process of not remodeled but " " re- freshing it ..w white paint to brighten up old house ......🦋

[@JosephStJames2000]

What a great story, both about the house and the lady. Fascinating. 😀

[@kookycoolauntkaryn5884]

my granny always said **THE FIRST TIME YOU MARRY ITS FOR LOVE, THE SECOND TIME YOU MARRY IS FOR MONEY**..... personally I married the first time for money.... so I'm still open to the thought of the l word... in my head 😂

[@katherinechase3674]

First is for love. Second is for business / money. Third for companionship. I missed #2, no foresight-

[@lilwil-ns3uo]

Just found your channel. I'm so impressed. Just subscribed. Really interesting material!

[@kaliwindx7287]

This was really interesting. Thank you so much

[@DarcySteele]

I love how short your videos are. They’re just jampacked with information and I have time to watch them! :-)

[@brokenglass849]

Very finely done series.

[@mariasussman6683]

Just…WOW!!

[@richsontchi4770]

Fabulous Story! What A Beautiful Mansion...💖

[@santasxgirlfriend]

this story is the inspiration for a movie I am sure-

[@jamesholt7612]

Very cool video Ken. I love the history of it.

[@karenhill3970]

VERY interesting thank you!!!

[@Evan1060]

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

[@judithryan783]

That is a wonderful and interesting story. Thanks for sharing it.

[@probablecauzz7038]

I love her smile in the last photo, good for her! She overcame! I would have loved to have known her. But than I'd be dead and dust by now. 😉

[@joeeyto]

Awesome video I always enjoy them

[@rorymacleod6101]

I love your channel! It’s so excellent

[@valfletcher9285]

Thank you!

[@ladiorange]

Thank you for being such an interesting channel

[@kathycooper7984]

This was so good. I've watched it. 5 times . Thanx

[@lizjoyce4846]

Very well done thank you so much so enjoyable

[@lunes-1]

Great video, keep it up!🇬🇧💂🏦

[@jennifergilbert9596]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@forward_ever_ever2595]

Now that is a real socialite!

[@kidmars93swagg]

Is there a few books I can purchase that would help me become familiar to the terminology of the construction?

[@uncabuzz118]

Her mother saved her pennies and bought a high end brothel? The Grigsby mansion built in 1898 and what a surprise...demolished in 1926. Nice story bro'.

[@eshbena]

No, her mother started a brothel and kept it going to fund her children's education and to keep herself fed. It was probably a better deal for the women as brothels run by women had a better track record of taking care of their girls than the ones run by men at the time.

[@uncabuzz118]

@@eshbena It just seems improbable like all these rags to riches stories.

[@Dzanarika1]

@@uncabuzz118 it is a network, she was just a puppet

[@mikenixon2401]

Another good video, Ken. I'm still impressed with your research.

[@joanwiebe3654]

Very interesting- thank you! ♥️

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

What a great story thanks for the video

[@mscarolynnigro]

Wow. She must have been very charismatic .

[@nancybernard3117]

Sad, all the money and beauty in the world won't buy your way into heaven. You can't take it with you, life here is very, very short, but eternity if forever.

[@twilightpurpleglow]

I really liked this story Emily was ahead of her time. Her widowed mom found a way (many would agree not a respectable profession) to get her two children ahead. Provided them with an excellent education and I am sure though Emily aim high my girl, and that she did. Smart intelligent an knowledgeable. Shame she did not find a love to share her interesting life with and then no children, but in the end according to the video she was a very happy woman. I am glad she was accepted the second time around in England's Society as they were/are not immune to scandal. RIP beautiful "lady" Emily Grigsby.

[@sveng3192]

Excellent!

[@curiouscath7629]

Cool..I really enjoyed this.. Well done ✌️🍷🖤

[@phyllisanngodfrey6137]

Wow. Amazing life, she led 👍🏻❤️. Way ahead of her time.

[@BusyBob6971]

Now that was interesting!

[@henrygardner8418]

Ken, Great presentation. A+

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@theworldisavampire3346]

Hey Hollyweird, This needs to be a series. Filled with riches, decadence a devilishly smart heroine. Come on now

[@TheTravelerMan]

Such a cool story. Good research.

[@desertsunman5880]

Great story - thx!