Gloria Vanderbilt's Family Built the Most Opulent Homes in America

When style icon and heiress Gloria Vanderbilt died this morning at age 95, the outpouring of grief included innumerable homages to the woman herself—including a moving tribute by her son, CNN's Anderson Cooper—and also to her storied family. The Vanderbilts were one of the wealthiest families in American history, and Gloria's status as great-great-granddaughter to Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, the 19th-century industrialist and railroad magnate (there's a reason why New York's famous Grand Central Terminal is located on Vanderbilt Avenue!) earned her a life of incredible privilege. Many of the Vanderbilt family's sumptuous homes are not just still standing but open to the public. Here are a few of the most famous, all worth a visit for their great beauty, and their deep history.