About Us

Spend a fascinating day at the Eagle’s Nest estate of William K. Vanderbilt II, heir to one of America’s greatest fortunes. Drive through the elegant iron gates and view the same stunning panorama of Northport Bay and Long Island Sound that delighted Mr. Vanderbilt when he arrived each summer. His mansion and museum, set on 43 rolling acres, will take you back to the celebrated era of the Gold Coast.

See centuries-old paintings and furniture collected during his extensive world travels. Enjoy an intriguing, history-filled guided tour of the Vanderbilt mansion’s living quarters. Hear tales of the Vanderbilt family and their world-famous guests. Marvel at the collections in the natural-history and cultural-artifact museum galleries. Stroll the gardens and tour the marine museum and animal habitats.

Visit the 147-seat Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium for a spectacular sky show, astronomy program or Rock ‘n’ Light show. During the summer, come to the Vanderbilt Mansion and Planetarium for affordable culture and fun – music, dance, and Shakespeare.

Vanderbilt Museum History

Vanderbilt Museum History

William K. Vanderbilt II, one of the richest men in the world, traveled the globe in the 1920s and ‘30s, collecting marine, invertebrate and bird specimens, and cultural artifacts for the museum he built on his Long Island estate in Centerport. Upon his death in 1944, he left his mansion, estate and museum to Suffolk County, New York, “for the use, education and enjoyment” of the public. The county opened the museum in 1950. Learn more about our museum’s history.

William K. Vanderbilt II

William K. Vanderbilt II

As a boy, William K. Vanderbilt II (1878-1944) sailed around the world with his parents, later attended Harvard College, and served as a lieutenant with the U.S. Navy during World War I. A record-setting race driver, he brought auto racing to the United States, and established the Vanderbilt Cup Races on Long Island, where he also built the first road solely for private automobile use. Later, circling the globe twice in his yachts, he collected marine, invertebrate and bird specimens for the museum he built on his estate in Centerport, Long Island. Learn more about William K. Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt Planetarium

Planetarium

The Vanderbilt Museum’s Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium received a $4-million makeover – including new seating, carpeting, lobby and gift shop – and a cutting-edge technological update. Reopened in 2013, the Reichert Planetarium is one of the finest and most advanced in the United States. Visitors can see programs developed by renowned international planetariums, watch Rock ‘n’ Light shows, see sky shows that recreate celestial events on the 60-foot dome, and view the night sky in the Observatory. Learn more about our planetarium and current shows.

Gold Cost Mansion

Gold Coast Mansion

In 1910 William K. Vanderbilt II began to build a spectacular waterfront estate on 43 acres in Centerport, Long Island. Today, Eagle’s Nest is one of the few surviving Gold Coast estates, and his 24-room Spanish-Revival mansion – filled with priceless art and furnishings – remains as it was when he lived there. The mansion is an enchanting time capsule of the life of a privileged family from the Jazz Age through the Second World War. Learn more about the Vanderbilt Mansion.

Long Island Museum Exhibits

Museum Exhibits

William K. Vanderbilt II, during oceanic expeditions and unprecedented circumnavigations of the globe, collected thousands of specimens of birds, invertebrates and marine life for his museum, some of them new discoveries. With artisans from the American Museum of Natural History, he created stunning animal- and marine-habitat dioramas and galleries of artifacts from world cultures. His collections include a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy and a 32-foot whale shark, the world’s largest taxidermied fish, caught off Fire Island in 1935. Learn more about our museum exhibits.

Educational opportunities at the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium.

Education

William K. Vanderbilt II wanted his estate, mansion and museum to be an informal educational facility that “promotes an appreciation and understanding of the marvelous diversity of life, other cultures and scientific knowledge.” The Vanderbilt Museum has made that wish its mission, and offers year-round educational programs for children and schools. In addition to Planetarium astronomy shows for school and scouting groups, these programs include creative workshops that make learning fun for young children. Learn more about educational opportunities at the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium.

Our Associations:

Walt WhitmanLong Island ExchangeHistoric Gold Coast MansionsHistoric Long IslandLong Island North Shore Spy Trail Arena Players Repertory Theater