Lynnewood Hall, a Gilded Age Mansion, Opens to Public for First Time in 80 Years Amid Restoration Efforts
Lynnewood Hall, a 110-room Gilded Age mansion in Pennsylvania, has opened its doors to the public for the first time in over 80 years. The estate, commissioned in 1897 by Peter A.B. Widener and completed in 1899, is currently undergoing extensive restoration. Visitors can tour the property as it hosts 'Fleur de Villes: The Gilded Age,' a floral installation inspired by characters from HBO's 'The Gilded Age.' The mansion, once dubbed 'The Last of the American Versailles' by Widener's grandson, spans nearly 110,000 square feet and is the second-largest surviving Gilded Age mansion in the U.S. The Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation acquired the estate in 2023 for $9 million, initiating multi-phase restoration efforts that could exceed $100 million. The mansion has a storied history, including the tragic loss of two Widener heirs on the Titanic in 1912, and remained largely vacant for 30 years before its recent purchase.
