Gilded Age New York was a place of immense cultural production. Between 1865 and 1900, the city's industrialists amassed wealth from investments in railroads, coal, and oil. Forming a new upper class, they created social rituals, flaunted the latest fashions, and championed the arts as they sought to affirm their societal position. The growth of industry also led to the rise of a middle class that also possessed an interest in the arts and leisure activities. This course will cover the major artistic contributions and historical moments of the Gilded Age. Students will study the construction of Olmsted’s Central Park as well as the mansions and public buildings of architects including Hunt, White, and McKim. They will read the literature of Edith Wharton, Mark Twain, and Jacob Riis— texts that illuminate the era. Students will also explore visual and material culture via advertisements, periodicals, genre paintings, and clothing. Field trips will include visits to the Frick Collection, the Merchant House Museum, and the Museum of the City of New York.