Inside Eagle’s Nest, the 42-Acre Vanderbilt Estate on Long Island

Eagle’s Nest began in 1910 as a small cottage for William K. Vanderbilt II and expanded over time into a 24-room Spanish Revival mansion. A full redesign was finished in 1936, turning the estate into one of Long Island’s notable historic homes. The property spans 42 acres and sits on the North Shore of Long Island, about 40 miles outside New York City.

William K. Vanderbilt II spent time at Eagle’s Nest until his death in 1944. His will directed that after his wife Rosamund’s death, the estate would be left to Suffolk County and become a museum, which happened after her death in 1947. Today, the former estate is open to the public as the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.

The estate now includes a museum, hiking trails, gardens, a gift shop, and the Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium, which holds multiple shows daily. Business Insider’s visit highlights the grounds, including the Rose Garden, landscaped areas, Long Island Sound views, and stone eagles at the entrance that were taken from Grand Central Terminal. The article positions Eagle’s Nest as both a historic mansion visit and a broader day-trip destination.

The museum is open every day except Monday, and mansion tours are offered every day. Museum tickets range from $10 to $15 depending on the visitor’s age, while a guided tour of the mansion costs an additional $9. For readers interested in Gilded Age history, the estate also connects to the Vanderbilt family’s broader cultural legacy, including links to HBO’s “The Gilded Age” noted in the article.