Long Island's Gold Coast

Images of America: New York

by Paul J. Mateyunas, Foreword by Nelson DeMille

In the spotlight with the publication of The Great Gatsby, the North Shore's Gold Coast boasted perhaps the greatest concentration of wealth in the country during the first half of the 20th century. In its heyday, over 1,200 grand homes lined the shoreline from Eaton's Neck to Great Neck and as far south as Old Westbury. With inspiration from around the globe, as well as the development of many new American styles, an architectural renaissance occurred, bringing together the greatest artisans, architects, landscape architects, and designers to create an exclusive enclave that flourished until World War II. Captains of industry, founding families, and even royalty called Long Island home. Everyone from Morgan, Woolworth, Vanderbilt, Hearst, Field, and Phipps to the Duke of Windsor resided here. Lavish parties celebrated weddings, Lindbergh's transatlantic flight, and other events. Today, approximately one-third of these houses still survive in various states, providing a glimpse of what was the Gold Coast.

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2012

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My interest in architecture lead me to Paul J. Mateyunas’ Long Island’s Gold Coast (Images of America), and I am very pleased to have learned the history of this area during the first half of the 20th century. Being a resident of East Coast (NJ), I have spent time on Long Island, but I am also a preservationist especially when architecture is the concern and a lover of history. The author has a phenomenal collection of photographs of this era on Long Island’s Gold Coast which are a wonder to view as well as information about the owners, landscapers, craftsmen, designers, and ,of course, the architects who built these unbelievable estates. Until World War II these estates were lived in and loved by many well-known families such as Vanderbilt, Woolworth, Morgan, Hearst, Phipps, and Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband, E. F. Hutton. About 1/3 of these homes are still standing. Some are privately owned; some-country clubs; some-educational institutions; and some-individual companies, but this book provides a look at a lost era that I found fascinating!