Description

This book tells the story of Shelburne Farms, once a magnificent Gilded Age country estate conceived by America s leading aristocrats of the day, Lila Vanderbilt and William Seward Webb. Built between 1886 and 1905, the houses and barns, designed by architect Robert H. Robertson, include Shelburne House, the Webbs stunning Shingle- and Queen Anne-style residence with a formal Italianate flower garden, and the Breeding Barn, which was the largest open-span wooden structure in America. Landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted planned the 4,000 acres of pastureland, woodlands, and trails. Period photographs capture the Webbs original vision, while new photography showcases the splendid results of decades-long restoration. The property is now open to the public. Shelburne House, transformed into an inn, showcases many original paintings, furnishings, and decorative arts.