Marble House Alva Vanderbilt

A contemporary of vanderbilt s was quoted as saying that she loved nothing better than to be knee deep in mortar.

Marble house alva vanderbilt. Not to be outdone by his younger brother cornelius ii william built marble house on newport s cliffs at the cost of 11 million which included about 7 million worth of marble more than 500 000 cubic feet of the stone. Alva vanderbilt later alva belmont s story is the one that thrives behind the heavy walls of marble house. Constructed in secrecy for almost four years and ostensibly a present from her husband william kissam vanderbilt marble house did what alva meant it to do confirm her position as one of the leading lights of society. Lorsqu alva vanderbilt divorça de william en 1895 elle possédait déjà marble house reçu en tant que présent pour son 39e anniversaire.

Designed as a summer cottage for alva and william kissam vanderbilt by the society architect richard morris hunt it was unparalleled in opulence for an american house when it was completed in 1892. Maybe he didn t get her anything and that s why they divorced a few years later. You can also register for free. Prince trust of chicago donated the interior furnishings.

He donated the house to the preservation society of newport county while the frederick h. She was the daughter of a cotton broker. William vanderbilt whose older brother cornelius ii built the breakers gave this opulent palace to his wife alva as a 39th birthday gift. Alva vanderbilt was known to entertain at marble house and in particular at the all portsmouth press articles are free to read but you must log in to view this post.

Marble house is a gilded age mansion in newport rhode island. I wonder how he topped that on her 40th birthday. Marble house was a birthday present for his wife alva vanderbilt. It is said that the marble alone over 500 000 cubic feet cost 7 million.

The house was designed by the architect richard morris hunt inspired by the petit trianon at versailles. Alva was born on january 17th 1853 as alva ertskin smith in mobile alabama. Its temple front portico resembles that of the white house. Marble house s bronzed entrance gates weigh at least 10 tons.

After the civil war her family moved to france where she was educated. Alva vanderbilt was a leading hostess in newport society and envisioned marble house as her temple to the arts in america. As a young newlywed alva vanderbilt worked from 1878 to 1882 with richard morris hunt to design a french renaissance style chateau known as the petit chateau for her family at 660 fifth avenue in manhattan.