The Lost & Forgotten Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue Webinar

Beginning with the first residence erected on the still unpaved street in 1834, Fifth Avenue became the home of Manhattan’s wealthiest citizens — but as the decades progressed, the seemingly endless row of lavish brownstone, marble, and limestone mansions began to be replaced one-by-one by office buildings. This is the story of those long-forgotten mansions and prominent families that once defined New York’s most famous avenue.

Join New York Adventure Club for a digital walk up 19th-century Fifth Avenue, to discover the remarkable homes that once lined the avenue from Washington Square to 53rd Street.

Led by historian Tom Miller, our virtual lecture and showcase of these mostly forgotten treasures and their captivating stories will include:

• A historical overview of Fifth Avenue and how it became the most exclusive residential thoroughfare in the city
• A deep dive into the incredible stories surrounding Fifth Avenue’s most famous residences, including the Henry Brevoort mansion (the avenue’s first home, which set the tone of the street for more than a century to come), the picturesque country estate of Waddell Castle, and free-standing Madam Ann Restell mansion (which was shunned by society because of her scandalous profession)
• Popular photographs and paintings of many of these iconic Fifth avenue homes

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Tom — any and all questions about the mansions of 19th-century Fifth Avenue are welcomed and encouraged!

See you there, virtually! $10.

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you’re using the latest version of your internet browser — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week

About Tom Miller

Architectural and social historian Tom Miller is the author of Seeking New York, Seeking Chicago, as well as the popular blog “Daytonian in Manhattan.” Since 2009 Tom has published a blog post on a different Manhattan location every day — now totaling more than 3,000.

His research and reporting focus as much on the social histories of the buildings — the tragedies and sorrows, triumphs and scandals of the people who built and lived in the houses — as on their architecture and styles. Tom Miller’s retelling of these stories make the buildings come alive; and suddenly they are more than brick, marble, and limestone, but the histories of real people.

Testimonials

“The subject is in my area of interest. I have never been to NY. It was informative, educational, and interesting!” -Amy

“The content was very interesting. The author was knowledgable about the subject matter. The webinar worked well and the chat room was moderated so questions/issues were addressed immediately.” -Molly

“I learned a great deal & enjoyed the presentation.” -Barbara

“I leaned so much…thought I sort of knew this topic but I really didn’t!” –Stacy “I loved seeing the images while Tom told us the stories of them and their inhabitants.” –Diana

“It was so well organized. His stories of the people made the buildings come alive. The photos of then & now & the photos of the interiors. It was terrific” -Joan

“Content was well-chosen and good in-depth presentation. Excellent talk, easy to follow.” –Charles

“Fascinating look at the old mansions, terrific stories about the people. Very engaging” -Stacy

“The speaker was incredibly knowledgeable and provided juicy anecdotes to spice up the presentation” -Shlomo