Culture

The Golden Era, and Grand Destruction, of Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s New York Palace

Lost Masterpieces

The palatial Cornelius Vanderbilt II House on Fifth Avenue survived less than 50 years. By 1927, the crown jewel of an American royal family was rubble—and today it’s Bergdorf’s.

180617-mcnearney-cornelius-vanderbilt-ii-mansion-hero_vnnf5m
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.