Alva Belmont was a prominent Gilded Age socialite who married a Vanderbilt railroad heir. Later in life, she became a women's suffrage activist.

The wealthiest families of the Gilded Age lived in enormous mansions outfitted with gold, marble, and priceless art. Take a ...

Alva, however, maintained custody of their children and ownership of Marble House and received a hefty settlement when she divorced Vanderbilt on the grounds of adultery.

While gilded ceilings and furnishings are coated in gold, appearing shiny and luxurious, they serve as a metaphor for the ...