Marble House

Since the earliest days of the nation, the rise of wealth in the United States brought enormous mansions, manor homes, summer homes, and family compounds constructed by the country's most successful business people.America's first leaders modeled their homes after the grand manors of Europe, borrowing classical principals from ancient Greece and Rome. During the Antebellum period before the Civil War, affluent plantation owners built stately Neoclassical and Greek Revival manors.The mansions, manors, and grand estates in this photo gallery reflect the range of styles explored by America's wealthy classes. Many of these homes are open for tours. Follow the links for travel information.Architect Stanford White was prominent architect famous for his elaborate Gilded Age buildings. Like other architects of the period, White took inspiration from the Grand Trianon château at Versailles when he designed Rosecliff in Newport, Rhode Island.