Top 10 GILDED AGE MANSIONS of the BERKSHIRES

The Berkshires! A place known for its rolling hills, its sprawling estates, and a prime spot for extravagance and luxury. A year-round destination frequented by rich individuals desiring an escape from big city life.

Today, we are taking you through the Berkshires. A part of western Massachusetts drenched in pastoral beauty and opulence, and a place you don’t want to miss.

Situated midway between Boston and New York City, in what is known as a thriving art center, with ample outdoor activities, and magnificent scenery, it’s quite obvious why the decadence of the Gilded Age had found its way here?

While the heyday of the gilded era has surely died down, many of its opulent Berkshires mansions still stand today, and they continue to give visitors a glimpse into this glamorous and most captivating time in history.

So if you’ve got a few minutes to spare, you’re welcome to join us on our tour of the most sumptuous of estates in this most majestic part of Massachusetts. And best of all, most are open to the public, so that you can experience their beauty from the inside and out.

So without further ado, here are the Top 10 GILDED-AGE MANSIONS of the BERKSHIRES!

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So you plan on visiting some of these house museums, do you? Awesome!
But before you head out that door, do make it a point to visit each venue’s website for more specific information on how and when you can visit.

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Top 10 GILDED AGE MANSIONS of the BERKSHIRES

[healthyamerican]

there were so many extravagant mansions being built that i wonder how there were enough carpenters and construction workers to complete the estates of the guilded age

[Shelly-mzyf]

Thank you so much schmancy for this exceptional video of the most beautiful architecture ever ❤. Love the time period and every attention to detail the builders created. These may very well be the last buildings, as those in NY city have been demolished.

[johnflynn]

Keep up the great work with your videos! I love the Berkshire mansion video it was so interesting? You see them but never know who owned them and what became of them now? Now I want to join the national historical society. Thanks again, keep making them!!

[LJB]

Wyndhurst and Elm Court are not next door to each other. There are a number of other beautiful mansions in Lenox and Stockbridge, but they are not open to the public. Very enjoyable video.

[davidabrinton]

I lived on the 3rd floor of #4 Ventfort hall for a couple of years around 1980. Absolutely beautiful building and fun to explore.
I also took a stroll through #6 Elm Court mansion when is was an uninhabited mess. (trespasser)
Oh, and my company had a few Christmas parties at #7 Blantyre.
Of course I've been to #9 Tanglewood many times, but never entered the Mansion.

[TheJamesstark]

I worked at some of these cottages, So greatful to learn the true history of these places from caretakers.

[mairoo]

Thank you for such a wonderful details and there are many more Mansion in the Berkshires

[TheJamesstark]

You sould have given a shout-out to Shadow Brook, though no longer standing it was the largest mansion in america at the time.

[prairiedoggy]

Actually, Elm Court was restored by a Vanderbilt/Sloan descendent, Robert Berle, along with his wife, Sonya.

[josephdonalde]

i like eden hill of th cathlic polish centered assocn of marian helpers

[mikejack]

Arrowhead in Pittsfield is great..home to Herman Melville..He wrote Moby Dick there...Pittsfield is also Baseballs true Home...not Cooperstown...Pittsfield has beautiful lake pontoosuc and onota crystal clean water...Hey smancy you missed alot of Gilded age cottages in lenox..i stayed at Shadowbrook last night..

[josephdonalde]

tanglewood area caus i like classical music

[DPKATown]

Yeah that’s the South Berkshires. Don’t get that twisted with the rest of the Berkshires they are not the same lol

[marilynmckenzie]

I like The Mount and The Blantyre. I would love to do a tour in any of the “ cottages” open to the public. 🧑🏻‍🦰🇨🇦

[nat]

When visiting the Berkshire's you might want to stay away from Pittsfield unless you're trying to score some dope or meth. It's a mess. North Adam's isn't much better but it does have the largest contemporary arts museum in the United States and it's pretty cool. Lock your car and don't park off the beaten path. Ironically Lennox and Stockbridge are quite close and they are lovely and safe. All of it is in the middle of wilderness and it's gorgeous.