In 1910, William K. Vanderbilt II purchased 20 acres along the Gold Coast and commissioned Warren & Wetmore, the architectural designers of New York’s Grand Central Terminal, to design a summer home. The resulting 24-room Spanish Baroque mansion was completed in 1936 and dubbed by Vanderbilt as The Eagle’s Nest. The estate grounds expanded to 43-acres as Vanderbilt procured more land. The waterfront estate includes the mansion, a boathouse, the curator’s cottage, a seaplane hangar, a courtyard with a reflecting pool and several picturesque gardens, including a rose garden and the wishing well garden. Some of the architectural splendor includes elaborately designed iron grills and fixtures that were created by renowned iron artisan Samuel Yellin. The estate’s backdrop scenes include breathtaking panoramic vistas of Northport Bay and the Long Island Sound.
Upon Vanderbilt’s death in 1944, the mansion was deeded in accordance with his will to Suffolk County under the provision that it would be used to exhibit his lifelong collections for the public’s enjoyment and for educational purposes. The mansion was opened as a museum complex for public viewing six years later. The Eagle’s Nest mansion became listed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1985.
Vanderbilt was passionate about natural history, marine life, world cultures and seafaring. These passions are reflected in today’s museum complex, which displays more than 30,000 objects within its galleries. The eclectic collection is representative of his life from the Jazz Age through the World War II era. The mansion contains the original furnishings and period pieces, and guided tours offer a glimpse into the lifestyle of Vanderbilt and his wife, Rosamund.
The museum complex includes several wings of exhibits that include an extensive exhibit of taxidermy marine, mammal and avian creatures on display. There is also an impressive preserved butterfly collection. The Hall of Fishes exhibit displays numerous marine specimens. The Habitat, found within the Stoll Wing, features spectacular dioramas that depict wildlife in their natural surroundings from various continents around the globe. The world’s largest specimen of marine life taxidermy was caught from the waters off of Fire Island in 1935, and the 32-foot whale shark now surveys the museum’s visitors as they amble along the Habitat’s exhibits. The astounding collection of the Memorial Wing stars cultural artifacts that Vanderbilt brought back from his expeditions to Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands.
In 1971, the Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium was first opened at the Vanderbilt estate. Following an extensive and long overdue makeover, it was reopened in 2013. The planetarium includes a lobby and gift shop, and the William and Mollie Rogers theatre features 147 ergonomic seating capacity, a GeminiStar III projector that displays images on the 60-foot dome screen, and a rooftop observatory with a 16-inch Meade reflecting telescope. Stargazing is available all year on Fridays from 8-10pm, weather permitting. Inside the theatre, impressive laser light shows that are choreographed to the music of various classic rock icons are presented on Friday and Saturday nights at 9:00pm. Earlier planetarium guests can marvel at the shows that encourage imaginations to journey to the stars and beyond.
The Vanderbilt Mansion, Museum and Planetarium features numerous events and live music and arts performances, and the venue is available for private weddings, birthday celebrations and other occasions. The grounds and terraces are highly coveted settings for wedding photography. For the general public, Vanderbilt has bequeathed some scenic strolls, stunning photographic opportunities, his personal museum of natural history and a time travel escapade to a bygone era of Gold Coast extravagance. The Vanderbilt Mansion, Museum and Planetarium is located at 180 Little Neck Road in Centerport. You can access directions, hours of operation and a schedule of events by visiting www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.