This Road Trip Takes You To The Most Iconic Filming Locations in The Gilded Age

Though it's not technically featured in the show, the Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion & Museum is the perfect launching point for our road trip. This Jacobean-style home was built in 1893 for George and Sarah Morgan (sister of J. P. Morgan, whose character is portrayed in the series). The stately home is approximately 28,000 square feet and has 50 individual rooms. It's open daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., offering tours of the home and immersive exhibits that will bring this iconic era in American history to life.

Some of my favorite scenes in "The Gilded Age" take place in Newport, a stunning coastal destination famous for attracting the wealthy and famous New Yorkers. The Breakers is steeped in real-life Gilded Age history, too, as it was a Vanderbilt mansion that was built between 1893 and 1895 as a summer home. In the show, the Great Hall and Music Room are used as Bertha Russell's ballroom in her Manhattan home.

Marble House is another iconic Newport mansion built between 1888 and 1892 for the Vanderbilt family as a summer "cottage." It's said that Marble House transformed Newport from a relaxed seaside town to an island of opulent wealth. It's fitting, then, that some of the interiors of the homes are used in the series. Consuelo Vanderbilt's bedroom at Marble House is used as George Russell's bedroom. (The fictional Russell Family is largely based on the Vanderbilts.)

It may not have a Gilded Age aesthetic, but the Wayfinder Newport Hotel is a perfect home base for all of your adventures. Newport has so much to uncover, from the dazzling homes to the picture-perfect Cliff Walk, that you'll want to spend at least one night here. Guests love the on-site dining options, the bikes available for rent, and the lovely and clean rooms.

Central Park, as it's portrayed in the series, isn't shot in Manhattan; in fact, it's filmed in Tarrytown, New York. Still, you can't miss the real thing, which is why our next stop is the sprawling, breathtaking Central Park. As you stroll past the scenery, imagine New York's elite enjoying carriage parades and picnics. But the park wasn't just for the ultra-wealthy; it was a space for all to enjoy a breath of fresh air amid industrialization. Have even more time to explore the city? Other iconic landmarks from the Gilded Age era include the Plant House and the Henry Clay Frick House. For an unforgettable Gilded Age-inspired meal, head to Delmonico's. Open since 1837, it's considered America's first fine-dining steakhouse.

The Lyndhurst Mansion, also known as the Jay Gould estate, was designed in 1838 and is situated along the Hudson River on 67 private acres. The design of the home is Gothic Revival, with narrow hallways, small, arched windows, and ornamented ceilings. Today, the mansion is open to the public and absolutely worth visiting. In :The Gilded Age," it serves as the home for Charles and Aurora Fane, as well as a few other scenes, such as the office of The Globe and some Central Park shots.

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Photo credits (from top to bottom): Dave Rogge/Flickr, Dan - stock.adobe.com, michelaubryphoto - stock.adobe.com, Wayfinder Newport/Airbnb, AntonioLopez - stock.adobe.com, Ali Eminov/Flickr