Marble House

William K. Vanderbilt, grandson of the shipping and railroad magnate, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt built his $11,000,000 "cottage" between 1889 and 1892. The drive to outbuild, outstaff, outdress and outparty their peers was intense amoung America's wealthiest families during the "gilded" 1880s and '90s, and William and Alva Vanderbilt were probably the strongest contenders. The divorced and in later life Alva hosted "Votes for Women" rallies at Marble House. Alva built the Chinese Teahouse, a small, colorful oriental-style pavilion behind Marble House. We saw Richard and Karen again at this mansion and decided to meet back at our motorhome and go to dinner.