August 15, 2024.

Just down the road from the FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt sites sits the Vanderbilt Mansion on over 200 acres (formerly over 600 acres). Frederick Vanderbilt had the mansion constructed and furnished from scratch after the previous mansion occupying the property was deemed structurally unsound.

Frederick and his wife Louise rotated between this mansion and other homes in NYC, the ADKs, Newport, and Bar Harbor. 17th century Belgian tapestries, hand painted ceiling murals, 15th century Persian rugs, Renaissance-era armoires, Italian floor tiles…everything is as luxurious as one would expect. Since the home was donated to the Park Service by Louise’s niece two years after both Vanderbilts had died, the home contains all the original furniture and is in an excellent state of preservation.

I quickly walked the 2.5-mile Vanderbilt Loop before the mansion tour. It runs along the property, offering a nice view of the Hudson River, before turning and diving into the woods. It comes back up close to the gardens before returning to the parking area.