The great estates of the Hudson River Valley offer some of the finest examples of grand-scale 19th-century American architecture and landscape design. The houses, built by the leading architects of the day, were country retreats for Roosevelts, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Astors, among other illustrious families. With glorious river views and grounds that sprawl over hundreds of acres, most of the estates have become popular tourist attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. In addition to selected archival images, the book offers colour photographs, including many new aerial photographs of the estates. An introduction by architectural historian Michael Dwyer provides insight into the beauty and importance of the houses and their grounds.