Coined by Mark Twain, the term "Gilded Age" described the glittering yet corrupt era that defined turn-of-the-century America.
The grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt (who made the family fortune in the shipping and railroad industries), William K. Vanderbilt and his wife Alva threw one of the most incredible housewarming parties in New York City history.New York Historical Society
After the American Civil War, it seemed that the country's great division between the North and the South had finally come to an end. But another division soon became very apparent: the division between the rich and the poor. The Gilded Age, which lasted from roughly the 1870s through the early 1900s, saw both eye-watering splendor and absolute squalor.
The era known as the Gilded Age — so titled by Mark Twain — was fueled by many things. The transcontinental railroad had opened up the country, as well as new business opportunities. The United States was transforming from an agricultural nation to an industrial one. And European immigrants were pouring into urban centers across the country, where they worked low-paying jobs, lived in cramped tenements, and fueled American industries.
As a result, some lived with plenty, while most lived with next to nothing. In the gallery above, look through some striking photos from the Gilded Age. And below, see how the era began, endured, and collapsed.
Railroads, Industry, And The Development Of Extreme Wealth
Public DomainThe completion of the first transcontinental railroad.
Though no single moment triggered the Gilded Age, perhaps the beginning can be traced to a message sent by a telegrapher on May 10, 1869: "D-O-N-E." That meant the first transcontinental railroad was completed.
The railroad changed everything. Linking east and west for the first time, the transcontinental railroad transformed how Americans moved around the country. And it changed how they did business. Commerce was suddenly possible on a huge scale, and the railroad fed the wealth of railroad tycoons like Cornelius Vanderbilt and businessmen like Andrew Carnegie.
Public DomainAndrew Carnegie amassed a fortune during the Gilded Age thanks to his expansion of the American steel industry.
Vanderbilt was worth around $3 billion in today's money — Carnegie, who founded Carnegie Steel, came to be worth over $6 billion.
They were far from the only men to benefit from the rapid industrialization of the United States. Some of these men — including John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J.P. Morgan — were known as "robber barons" for how they monopolized their industries and pulled the strings of American politics.
The writer Mark Twain, always with an ear to the ground, took note of the changing dynamics in the country. In his 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, he gave the era its name. "Gilded," of course, refers to something that looks like it might be solid gold but is actually of a lesser value.
Indeed, the Gilded Age sparkled on the surface. But it also involved a shockingly intense disparity between the rich and the poor.
The Disparate Lives Of The Rich And Poor During The Gilded Age
Public DomainThe William K. Vanderbilt House, built for William K. Vanderbilt and his wife, Alva, in 1882. This home no longer exists.
For those who had money, there was nothing "gilded" about the Gilded Age. Their wealth was real, and they displayed it however they could. For many wealthy families, this meant building elaborate mansions, throwing lavish parties, and sporting the most extravagant fashions of the day.
Thanks to Cornelius Vanderbilt's success with the shipping and railroad industries, for example, the Vanderbilt family constructed palatial homes in New York City, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and stunning summer "cottages" in Rhode Island. The Astor family also built a palatial New York home, as did the Rockefeller family and many others.
Within these homes, the Gilded Age rich were known to throw massive parties. On March 26, 1883, Alva Vanderbilt, the wife of William K. Vanderbilt, (Cornelius Vanderbilt's grandson), threw a huge "housewarming" party at her new mansion at 660 Fifth Avenue. The 1,200 guests wore elaborate costumes and spent the night dancing and guzzling champagne.
In today's money, the ball cost more than $6 million.
Public DomainAlva Vanderbilt's sister-in-law, Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt, wearing a costume that included a light-up torch.
But life was very different for those without extreme wealth. In 1890, most families earned less than $1,200 a year, with an average annual income of just $380. (Alva Vanderbilt, on the other hand, spent $65,000 on champagne alone for her housewarming party.) In urban centers like New York, many lived in cramped tenements and worked long hours for little pay.
This struck many as unsustainable. Indeed, an economist in 1879 reported "a widespread feeling of unrest and brooding revolution."
How The Gilded Age Lost Its Shine
The end of the Gilded Age came about for many reasons. Muckrakers — journalists determined to reform the system — published exposés that brought the Gilded Age's ills to light. Photographer Jacob Riis documented how "the other half" lived in seedy New York tenements, and Ida Tarbell's 19-part exposé of Standard Oil helped lead to the break-up of the company.
Jacob RiisStreet children, as documented by Jacob Riis, sleeping near a grate for warmth on Mulberry Street. Circa 1890.
Meanwhile, the Panic of 1893 led many to see that the current economic system wasn't working — and the rise of populist politicians like William Jennings Bryan gave a voice to voters dismayed by economic inequality. Progressive politics, which tasked the government with solving society's problems, also got a boost with the ascension of Theodore Roosevelt. His administration approved a number of progressive policies.
By the early 1900s, the Gilded Age had ended and the Progressive Era began. Reformers pushed for cleaner cities and better housing for average citizens. And the break-up of various monopolies meant that wealthy families couldn't dominate entire industries like they had in the late 19th century.
That said, some believe that we're living in a "second" Gilded Age. Perhaps Mark Twain was prescient when he quipped: "What is the chief end of man? — to get rich. In what way? — dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must."
In the gallery above, look through the most striking photos of the Gilded Age, from elaborate mansions to the humble dwellings of the "have-nots."
After looking through historic images of the Gilded Age, check out these photos of the Great Depression in stunning color. Or, enjoy these colorized images from turn-of-the-century New York City.
