Inside The Carnegie Family's "Old Money" Mansions

Let's give you an "old money mansions" tour of the Carnegie family’s impressive estates, each one offering a unique glimpse into the power and vision of this remarkable family. --------------------------- Inside The Roosevelt Family's "Old Money" Mansions:    • Inside The Roosevelt Family's "Old Money" ...   --------------------------- TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction 1:06 #1 Carnegie Hill Mansion – New York City, New York 6:36 #2 Skibo Castle – Sutherland, Scotland 11:38 #3 Shadowbrook – Lenox, Massachusetts 16:35 #4 The Carnegie Mansion – Dungeness, Cumberland Island, Georgia --------------------------- First, we journey to the Carnegie Hill Mansion in New York City. This Georgian Revival estate, completed in 1902, was ahead of its time, featuring steel frame construction, an elevator, and a sophisticated heating system. Andrew Carnegie lived here until his death in 1919, and the house became a hub for his philanthropic projects. Following his wife’s passing in 1946, the mansion was donated to the Carnegie Corporation, and today, it is home to the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, preserving its legacy of innovation and education. Next, we head to Skibo Castle in Scotland, which Carnegie purchased in 1898 and transformed into one of the most luxurious estates in the country. With a massive renovation tripling the castle's size, Skibo boasted electric lighting, hot water, and a 9-hole golf course. Carnegie hosted royalty and industrial titans alike at Skibo, yet it also became a base for his philanthropy, providing healthcare and education to local children. Today, Skibo continues as The Carnegie Club, a members-only retreat that preserves both the historical grandeur and modern luxury of Carnegie's vision. Our next stop takes us to Shadowbrook in Lenox, Massachusetts, where Carnegie spent the final years of his life. This grand 100-room estate was a place of reflection for Carnegie as he pondered his legacy and efforts toward world peace. He passed away here in 1919, and the mansion’s vast grounds and serene location were a fitting final retreat for one of America’s most iconic figures. Though Shadowbrook was tragically lost in a fire in 1956, its legacy endures, and the land is now home to the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Finally, we travel to Cumberland Island, Georgia, to explore the ruins of Dungeness. This once grand Queen Anne mansion was built by Thomas Carnegie and expanded by his widow, Lucy, into a vast estate complete with pools, golf courses, and servant quarters. Dungeness was a southern retreat for the Carnegie family, but it was abandoned during the Great Depression and later destroyed by fire in 1959. Today, its ruins, now part of the Cumberland Island National Seashore, remain a haunting symbol of the Carnegies’ southern empire, surrounded by wild horses and lush landscapes.