In this illustrated talk presented at Cooper Hewitt, historian Keith Taillon will take us through a history of the mansion built by Andrew Carnegie, the current home of the museum, placed within the greater timeline of New York City’s rapid growth and transformation during the period known as the Gilded Age (approximately 1870–1910). Why was it built here and when? What was the neighborhood like before Carnegie’s arrival? 

Please note that the lecture is ticketed separately from the Carnegie Hill Walking Tours occurring on Friday, October 21 and Sunday, October 23. Visit those event pages for walking tour tickets. 

about KEITH TAILLON

Keith Taillon is a writer and historian in New York City. He holds degrees in History and Urban Planning, graduating with honors from New York’s Hunter College Master of Urban Planning program in 2019. His popular Instagram account @KeithYorkCity has more than 44,000 highly engaged followers. He is a licensed New York City Tour Guide and operates his own Manhattan walking tour company as KeithYorkCity. He is a writer for The Fifth Avenue Association and The Daily Beast and has been a guest lecturer at Cooper Hewitt, RAMSA, RoundTable Cultural Seminars, Parsons School of Design, and Landmark West. In 2022, he was a featured historian in the documentary series “American Dynasty,” discussing the lives and impact of the Vanderbilt family. He has been profiled by The New Yorker, The Times of London, Elle Decor, Condé Nast Traveler España, and Surface Magazine. He lives with his partner in Harlem. 

Accessibility

• Location: This program will take place in person in the Lecture Room at Cooper Hewitt (2 East 91st Street, New York, NY). The Lecture Room is on the ground floor of the museum and fully wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible restroom on the same floor. Theater-style seating will be available. Read more about accessibility at Cooper Hewitt.
• What to Expect: This program will feature a lecture with a slideshow presentation followed by an audience Q&A. The program will be recorded and available on Cooper Hewitt’s YouTube channel.
• Accommodations: For general questions, or if we can provide additional accessibility services or accommodations to support your participation in this program, please email us at CHEducation@si.edu or let us know when registering. Please make your accommodation request as far in advance as possible—preferably at least one week before the program date when possible.

Health & Safety Measures

Please visit Cooper Hewitt’s Plan Your Visit page for up-to-date information on health and safety guidelines. 

About national Design week

National Design Week celebrates the power of design in our everyday world. Launched in 2006, National Design Week is held in conjunction with the National Design Awards. From October 17–23, 2022, Cooper Hewitt’s galleries will be free to enter, and programs will welcome all to engage with design. Visit www.cooperhewitt.org/ndw for a complete listing of programs. Your support helps connect students and lifelong learners everywhere with today’s foremost designers, during National Design Week and throughout the year. Show your support today!  

Special Thanks

The National Design Awards are made possible with major support from

Major support is also provided by Helen and Edward Hintz and Shelby and Frederick Gans. Generous support is provided by Alexandra and Paul Herzan, Crystal and Chris Sacca, and Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer. 

Additional support is provided by Agnes Gund, Amita and Purnendu Chatterjee, Esme Usdan and James Snyder, Jon C. Iwata, Keith Yamashita, Kim and Mac Schuessler, Margery and Edgar Masinter, Richard M. Smith and Dr. Soon-Young Yoon, and Cooper Hewitt’s Board of Trustees.

National Design Week programs are made possible with major support from

Generous support is provided by The Hirsch Family Foundation and The Pinkerton Foundation.