Where is The Gilded Age filmed? Guide to all the houses and locations

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Featuring stunning houses built during the 19th century period of unprecedented economic growth and opulence that gives the series its name, The Gilded Age was filmed in the states of New York and Rhode Island.

Now back for the second season, the HBO series revolves around the clash between old money and new money families, who shaped America's economic landscape and cultural identity.

The Gilded Age HBO cast

The main cast is led by Morgan Spector as ruthless railroad tycoon George Russell, and Carrie Coon as his ambitious wife, Bertha Russell.

Louisa Jacobson is the penniless young lady Marian Brook, and Christine Baranski plays the old money matriarch Agnes van Rhijn.

Here is our spoiler-free guide to the filming locations of The Gilded Age. Starting with season two, you'll find the locations in order of appearance.


The Gilded Age locations

First Presbyterian Church in Albany
If you don't recognize the First Presbyterian Church in Albany's Washington Park, it may be because the second tower and some architectural features were CGI'd into the scene.

The street on Manhattan's Upper East Side was filmed on adjacent State Street, known for its architectural splendor and majestic government buildings.
(You can open all the locations on Google Maps by clicking on the links below in the captions ↴)
  Image courtesy of Max - Google Maps


The Gilded Age series church
The interior of the church, however, was filmed elsewhere, at Grace Episcopal Church in Nyack.

Dating back to the late 19th century, it is a charming example of Gothic Revival architecture.
Image courtesy of Max - Map


You Don't Even Like Opera
Also in the first episode, "You Don't Even Like Opera," the black congregation in Philadelphia attends a service at the beautiful First United Presbyterian Church in Troy.

Constructed in the late 19th century, the church is an exquisite example of Victorian Gothic architecture, boasting gorgeous stained glass windows.
Image courtesy of Max - Map


The Gilded Age location
The funeral was filmed in the courtyard of another church: the former St. Joseph's Church in Albany.

Opened in 1856 and closed in 1994, the building has been vacant for decades, awaiting a project to breathe life back into this monumental structure.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


The Gilded Age house

Brook–Van Rhijn house
The exteriors of the Fifth Avenue and East 61st Street buildings were partially constructed on a set in the studios up to the first floor, with the remainder created using digital effects.

Inspired by the classic brownstones of Gramercy Park, the interiors of the Brook-Van Rhijn home was built on a large soundstage in Glendale, NY.


The Russell House
The grand Russell House in New York is an amalgam of locations.

As Curbed reported, the exterior of the Russell House was modeled after the Cooper Hewitt Museum and the Lotos Club, both in Manhattan.
Image courtesy of HBO - Maps: Cooper Hewitt / Map


Marble House in Newport staircase
Inspired by the staircase in the Marble House in Newport, the staircase was recreated on a massive set at Gold Coast Studios on Long Island.

Built by the Vanderbilt family in the late 19th century, the Marble House is famous for its outstanding Beaux-Arts architecture and, as the name suggests, lavish marble interiors.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


The Breakers music room
As noted by Architectural Digest, the music room and the billiard room were filmed at The Breakers, one of the Vanderbilt family's most sumptuous estates.

This mansion is renowned for its grand Italian Renaissance-style architecture and breathtaking ocean views.
Image courtesy of Xiquinho Silva - Map


The Gilded Age house
The Russells' stunning Newport estate is The Elms, which is actually located in Newport.

This magnificent mansion is truly the epitome of the Gilded Age. With its grand architecture and sprawling gardens, this historic icon offers a glimpse into the extravagant lifestyles of America's elite in the early 20th century.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


The Elms mansion
The interiors of The Elms are exquisitely opulent, adorned with intricate woodwork, luxurious furnishings and stunning period decor.

The property was inspired by an 18th century French chateau while incorporating the latest technology of the time.

Monsieur Baudin's kitchen was also fimed in this house.


Marble House dinning hall
However, the pink dining room used to film the Duke of Buckingham's grand dinner in the fifth episode, Close Enough to Touch, is located at the Marble House in Newport.


Aurora Fane's house
Aurora Fane's house is the breathtaking Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown.

With marvellous interiors, this Gothic Revival castle was once owned by prominent families like the Goulds and the Rockefellers.
Image courtesy of HBO and Denver Gingerich - Map


The Montauk Club
This scene with Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) was filmed at the Montauk Club in Brooklyn, New York.

This historic social club, founded in the late 19th century, continues to be a cultural hub, maintaining its elegance and welcoming members into its storied halls.

Several other areas of the building are featured throughout the series.
Image courtesy of Max - Map


Paine Castle Troy
The Fane house in New York is the Paine Castle in Troy.

Constructed in the early 1890s by financier and industrialist Howard Paine, one room of this historic mansion also served as Tom Raikes' office.
Image courtesy of HBO and Map


Kingscote house
Susan Blane's state is Kingscote, one of Newport's historic mansions.

This Gothic Revival mansion is a prime example of High Victorian architecture, characterized by its picturesque design and asymmetrical beauty.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


Dauchy Building
The stores in the Dauchy Building on Troy's River Street were completely remodeled to serve as the Scott Pharmacy exterior.
Image courtesy of HBO and Google Maps


The Gilded Age drehorte
Most of the second episode, "Some Sort of Trick," takes place at the Newport Casino.

Opened as a social club, this athletic complex features the historic tennis court that appears in the series.

The casino has a significant place in sports history, having hosted the first United States National Lawn Tennis Championships, which later became the US Open.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


Cohoes Music Hall
The theater in the third episode, "Head to Head," is the Cohoes Music Hall.

Built in 1874, this Victorian-era gem continues to host a variety of performances.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


Palace Theatre in Albany
The hall of the new Metropolitan Opera House in the fourth episode, "His Grace the Duke," was filmed at the Palace Theatre in Albany.

Constructed in 1931, the Palace Theatre boasts an opulent and grandiose design inspired by the Spanish Renaissance style, characterized by its intricate detailing and lavish interior.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


Old Metropolitan Opera House
The auditorium is the Academy of Music of Philadelphia, featuring the dazzling crystal chandelier, first installed in 1857.

Sadly, the superb old Metropolitan Opera House on 39th Street, which opened in 1883, was demolished in 1967 despite the efforts of preservationists to save this iconic piece of cultural history.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


St. Peter's Church in Albany
The church scenes with Reverend Forte (played by Robert Sean Leonard) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon) were filmed at St. Peter's Church in Albany.

This mid-19th century building features intricate stained glass windows and ornate woodwork, all crafted in the grandeur of the Gothic Revival style.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


State Street Albany
The small Brooklyn Bridge enginner's house is a two-bedroom house built in 1897 at 292 State Street in Albany.

The story of Washington Roebling's wife, Emily Warren Roebling, is partially true, as in real life she took an active role in overseeing the project after her husband fell ill.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


Old Bethpage Village Restoration
The A.H. Porter Dormitory building does not exist, it is a CGI image.

These scenes were filmed on the grounds of the Old Bethpage Village Restoration project in Nassau County.

Built on the site of the old Powell's Farm, this living museum features a collection of 19th-century Long Island buildings assembled to form a village.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


Old Westbury Gardens
The marriage proposal scene in the sixth episode, "Warning Shots," was filmed at the Old Westbury Gardens.

With an impressive mansion completed in 1906, the estate spans over 200 acres of immaculate gardens, including terraces, woodlands, ponds, and landscaped grounds.
Image courtesy of HBO - Old Westbury Gardens


Harmony Mills Cohoes
Although this scene includes many digital elements, Russell's steel mill in Pittsburgh is actually Harmony Mills in Cohoes.

Constructed in the mid-19th century, these vast brick buildings were once a thriving textile mill complex, harnessing the power of the nearby Cohoes Falls on the Mohawk River.

At its peak, Harmony Mills was among the largest cotton mills in the world, producing textiles on an impressive scale.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
The venue for the Academy theater in the season finale, "In Terms of Winning and Losing," is the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.

Built in the late 19th century, this National Historic Landmark is a historic concert venue renowned for its exceptional acoustics and architectural beauty.
Image courtesy of HBO - Map


Can you help to improve this article about the filming locations of The Gilded Age? To complete and correct this report, any feedback, info, or images that you may have are more than welcome, thank you!

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10 comments:

1- Anonymous - Nov 23, 2023, 9:08 PM
They are not temples. They are churches.

   Reply
   2- Ra Moon - Nov 23, 2023, 6:50 AM
   In this context, they are not synonymous?

   Reply
   3- Anonymous - Nov 27, 2023, 9:18 PM
   Agree that using the terms “temple” and “church” interchangeably is a bad idea. And Presbyterians worship at a service, not a mass. But it’s fun to see how wide a search was conducted to find period locations.

4- Anonymous - Nov 25, 2023, 4:27 AM
Thank you. This was very informative and well written.

5- Anonymous - Nov 25, 2023, 10:04 AM
I live near the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and saw the actors in period wardrobe going in sometime in 2022. Are there any scenes in the Philadelphia Academy of Music?

   Reply
   6- Ra Moon - Nov 25, 2023, 19:02 PM
   Thank you, this confirms that the cast and crew did indeed film in Philadelphia.

7- Anonymous - Nov 29, 2023, 5:54 AM
Well done. your explanations and format are very appreciated.

8- Anonymous - Nov 30, 2023, 5:11 AM
I really enjoyed this article, very informative. I love The Gilded Age, its one of my favorite shows, thank you HBO.

9- Anonymous - Dec 1, 2023, 11:32 AM
Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, NY, is also heavily featured in the show! Aurora Fane's home is Lyndhurst Mansion, and the newspaper office is Lyndhurst's Carriage House. The grounds have also been used as a stand in for some Central Park scenes. The first image you show is of the cast Lyndhurst's parlor.

10- Anonymous - Dec 5, 2023, 7:06 AM
Wonderful article! The exterior of the Fane's home is the gorgeous Paine Castle also located in Troy N.Y. Thomas Raikes' office was filmed in one of the upper rooms, and the exterior as well as several of the grand rooms downstairs were used in The Age of Innocence.


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