Long gone may be the days of the Astors and the Vanderbilts, strict social registers and casual private ballrooms, but head uptown and you'll find quite a few elegant remnants of Manhattan's defining Gilded Age. Fancy yourself a modern Edith Wharton? Embark on a tour of the properties and landmarks once frequented by the bygone aristocracy of New York. From sprawling mansions to scandalous sculptures, plenty of history's riches remain - if you know where to look.
[Photo via @brookemichie]