Gold Coast Mansions

Oheka Castle, shown here in Huntington, New York, stands as one of the most magnificent Gold Coast Mansions of Long Island. Built in 1919 for financier Otto Hermann Kahn, the château-inspired estate is renowned for its grand architecture, formal gardens, and storied past. Today, Oheka Castle operates as a luxury hotel and event venue, preserving the opulence and glamour of Long Island’s Gilded Age for visitors and guests from around the world. File photo: Felix Lipov, licensed.

The Gold Coast Mansions of Long Island stand as enduring symbols of America’s Gilded Age – a fascinating time when some of the nation’s wealthiest families built grand estates along the island’s North Shore. These mansions, spanning from the late 1800s through the early 20th century, transformed Long Island into a playground of opulence, culture, and architectural innovation, inspiring novels, films, and generations of admiration.

What Is the Gold Coast?

The “Gold Coast” refers to the stretch of Long Island’s North Shore, mainly in Nassau County, that became known for its lavish estates and elite residents between the 1890s and 1930s. Banking barons, railroad tycoons, and industrial magnates – including the Vanderbilts, Pratts, Guggenheims, and Coes – commissioned sprawling mansions, each with its own unique character and story.

Sagamore Hill, located in Oyster Bay, Long Island, was the beloved home of President Theodore Roosevelt and is now a designated National Historic Site. This iconic Queen Anne-style mansion served as Roosevelt’s Summer White House, where he hosted world leaders, wrote extensively, and shaped American policy. Today, Sagamore Hill welcomes visitors to tour its historically preserved rooms and expansive grounds, offering a glimpse into the life and legacy of one of America’s most dynamic presidents.
Sagamore Hill, located in Oyster Bay, Long Island, was the beloved home of President Theodore Roosevelt and is now a designated National Historic Site. This iconic Queen Anne-style mansion served as Roosevelt’s “Summer White House,” where he hosted world leaders, wrote extensively, and shaped American policy. Today, Sagamore Hill welcomes visitors to tour its historically preserved rooms and expansive grounds, offering a glimpse into the life and legacy of one of America’s most dynamic presidents. File photo: Little Vignettes Photo, licensed.

History & Social Scene

  • The Gold Coast era coincided with America’s rise as an economic powerhouse, as fortunes accrued in industry, finance, and shipping were translated into palatial homes and manicured grounds.
  • These estates hosted extravagant parties, cultural gatherings, charity balls, and political meetings, defining a high society lifestyle rivaled only by Newport and the Hudson Valley.
  • Writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald drew inspiration from the Gold Coast’s glamour and excess, most notably in The Great Gatsby.
This grand mansion at Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury, New York, is one of the most celebrated Gold Coast estates on Long Island. Built in 1906 for John S. Phipps and designed in the Charles II English Revival style, the mansion is surrounded by exquisitely landscaped gardens and formal terraces. Today, Old Westbury Gardens is open to the public, offering guided tours, seasonal events, and the chance to experience the opulence and beauty of Long Island’s Gilded Age firsthand.
This grand mansion at Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury, New York, is one of the most celebrated Gold Coast estates on Long Island. Built in 1906 for John S. Phipps and designed in the Charles II English Revival style, the mansion is surrounded by exquisitely landscaped gardens and formal terraces. Today, Old Westbury Gardens is open to the public, offering guided tours, seasonal events, and the chance to experience the opulence and beauty of Long Island’s Gilded Age firsthand. File photo: Felix Lipov, licensed.

Architecture & Design

  • The mansions showcase an array of architectural styles: Tudor Revival, Beaux-Arts, Georgian, Mediterranean, and French Châteauesque.
  • Renowned architects and landscape designers – such as Stanford White, Delano & Aldrich, and the Olmsted Brothers – were enlisted to create homes, gardens, and parklands modeled after European palaces and stately manors.
View of Historic Long Island NY gold coast mansion Hempstead House at Sands Point
Hempstead House, seen here at Sands Point Preserve on Long Island’s North Shore, is one of the most impressive Gold Coast mansions. Built in 1912 by Howard Gould and later owned by the Guggenheim family, this grand stone castle was inspired by English estates and features elegant interiors, sweeping lawns, and formal gardens. Today, Hempstead House is open to the public for tours, events, and cultural programs, preserving the legacy and splendor of Long Island’s historic Gold Coast era. File photo: Little Vignettes Photo, licensed.

Legacy & Preservation

  • While many original mansions have been lost to time and development, dozens remain as museums, event venues, resorts, and private residences.
  • Notable Gold Coast Estates:
  • Many Gold Coast mansions have become settings for films, TV shows, and destination weddings, celebrating their architectural splendor and storied pasts.
The Coe family estate, known today as Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, is a prime example of a Gold Coast mansion. Built in the early 20th century, Coe Hall’s Tudor Revival architecture and expansive grounds were designed to evoke the elegance of an English country estate. Now a public park and historic site, Planting Fields Arboretum
The Coe family estate, known today as Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, is a prime example of a Gold Coast mansion. Built in the early 20th century, Coe Hall’s Tudor Revival architecture and expansive grounds were designed to evoke the elegance of an English country estate. Now a public park and historic site, Planting Fields Arboretum welcomes visitors to explore its stately rooms, manicured gardens, and rich horticultural collections, preserving the Coe family’s legacy and Long Island’s Gilded Age splendor. File photo: Little Vignettes Photo, licensed.

Visiting the Gold Coast Mansions

  • Guided tours, seasonal events, art exhibits, and educational programs invite visitors to step inside these grand homes and imagine life during the glamourous Gold Coast era.
  • The surrounding grounds – designed with fountains, greenhouses, sculpture gardens, and woodlands – remain havens for recreation and inspiration.

Gold Coast Mansions Quick Info

FeatureDetails
Era~1890–1930
LocationNorth Shore, mainly Nassau County, LI
Notable EstatesOheka Castle, Old Westbury Gardens, Sagamore Hill, Planting Fields
ArchitectureTudor, Georgian, Beaux-Arts, Mediterranean, French Château
AccessMany open as museums, event spaces, or luxury hotels
Fun FactThe Gold Coast inspired “West Egg” and “East Egg” in The Great Gatsby

Experience the Gold Coast

Long Island’s Gold Coast Mansions are a living museum of America’s age of ambition and artistry. Whether you explore their storied halls, wander the gardens, or admire them in film and literature, these estates tell an extraordinary tale of vision, luxury, and the timeless allure of Long Island’s North Shore.