When visiting New York, tour the Gold Coast Mansions in Long Island. The homes of the Gold Coast will transport you to the opulent palaces of Europe. Grand entrances, even grander staircases, tinkling chandeliers and ballrooms fit for Gatsby-esque parties are what you will find in these mansions. Today, these lavish mansions’ gates are open to the public, allowing we commoners to tour the interiors, stroll in the gardens and step back into another era in the American story.

Nassau County Gold Coast History

The Gold Coast was coined during the Gilded Age. Estates with ornate designs and gardens were the weekend and summer homes of the wealthy East Coast elite. Some of their owners included Morgan, Woolworth, Chrysler, Vanderbilt, and Phipps. Their lifestyles and parties are legendary.

Indeed, F. Scott Fitzgerald captured the spirit of the Gilded Age in his classic American novel, “The Great Gatsby,” which fictionalized Kings Point and Sands Point as West Egg and East Egg.

Tour the Gold Coast Mansions in Long Island Open to the Public

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site: From 1902 to 1908 Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and this was the “Summer White House.” He lived there until his death in 1919 and the interior remains exactly the same as it was during his lifetime.
Old Westbury Gardens: Tour the Charles II style mansion where the family of John S and Margarita Phipps lived for 50 years. The property is 160 acres and includes renowned gardens, lawns, woods, ponds, lakes and over 100 species of trees.
Sands Point Park and Preserve: This park includes three castle-like mansions: Hempstead House, Castle Gould and Falaise. Falaise was built by Harry S. Guggenheim and it a unique structure with think walls, steeply pitched roofs and a round tower that reminds one of where Rapunzel was kept.
Come back later in the month for additional Gold Coast villas to explore!

Lodging for Your Long Island Adventure

Our bed and breakfast is perfectly situated for day tripping all over Long Island. Located in the scenic North Fork Wine Region, we hope you will come and explore the island and its history!