The Gilded Age: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

The Gilded Age, a term coined by Mark Twain, refers to the period in American history from the 1870s to the early 1900s, a time of unprecedented economic growth, industrialization, and rapid social change, but a time also marked by widespread corruption, social inequality, and political unrest.

Join Susan and Art Zuckerman as they give you a peek into this fascinating period marked by immense economic and social change, great conflict between the old ways and brand new systems, and huge fortunes made and lost.

Learn about the most opulent times and lavish lives of the wealthy and the ruling class. Hear about the richest families who ever lived in New York including the Astors and their Society of “the 400,” the Vanderbilts, the Carnegies, the Rockefellers and many more.  You will also hear about the billionaire “Witch of Wall Street”, the “Murder of the Century” and the hideous nose condition of the most prominent banker in the country. 

 However, this was also the time of the greatest poverty in New York as chronicled in the book, “How the Other Half Lives”.  Crime, filth, and tenements spread in cities and there was violence and riots at the turn of the century.  You will hear about how many people in urban and rural areas labored under the shadow of poverty, including those working in the mills, factories and sweatshops, and new immigrants.  Reform movements of this time will also be addressed.  

The Zuckermans are licensed tour guides, radio talk show hosts, authors, college professors, historians, lecturers and world travelers.

This program does not need registration and is made possible with the support of The Friends of the Livingston Public Library.