Brett Williams
Brett Williams
A tale of old New York. In addition to the vlog, I’ve included some background on the Astors. They were a very well known family and very New York.
The Rise of the Astors
The Astor family name is synonymous with New York wealth, prestige, and high society. At the heart of the Gilded Age, a period from the 1870s to early 1900s marked by opulence, industrial growth, and stark social divides, the Astors stood tall among the city’s elite.
It began with John Jacob Astor I, a German immigrant who made his fortune in the fur trade before turning to real estate. By the early 19th century, he was one of America’s first multi-millionaires, laying the foundation for a dynasty that would help shape the city’s cultural and physical landscape.
Mrs. Astor and the “400”
The Gilded Age reached its social peak under the reign of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, better known as The Mrs. Astor. She dictated New York high society, famously determining who was “in” or “out.” Her exclusive guest list—the so-called “Four Hundred”—was said to reflect the number of people who could fit into her lavish Fifth Avenue ballroom.
Mrs. Astor’s word was law in matters of social standing. To be invited to one of her events was a stamp of upper-crust approval. Her rivalries with nouveau riche families like the Vanderbilts were legendary and reflected deeper tensions between old money and new wealth during this time of rapid economic change.
Astor Real Estate Empire
Beyond social dominance, the Astors built an enduring real estate empire. Much of Manhattan’s prime land was owned or influenced by the Astor family, especially in Midtown and along Fifth Avenue. They developed and held long-term leases on key properties, creating a legacy that would span generations.
Notable landmarks tied to the Astor name include the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and the Astor Library, which eventually became part of the New York Public Library system. Their influence extended into philanthropy, infrastructure, and even politics. The mansion of The Mrs. Astor, depicted below was located at the corner of 5th Avenue and W34th, the site of the future Empire State Building.
Legacy and Decline
By the early 20th century, the family’s social power began to wane, but their cultural imprint remained. John Jacob Astor IV, great-grandson of the founder, famously died aboard the Titanic in 1912. His death symbolized the end of an era for one of America’s most iconic dynasties.
Today, the Astor name lives on in places like Astor Place and in the memories of the Gilded Age. a glittering, controversial period where wealth reigned supreme, and the Astors stood at the pinnacle.
Happy travels
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