At the height of the Gilded Age, America's wealthiest families began to cluster in Newport, Southampton, Bar Harbor, and Greenwich, Connecticut. In these idyllic locales, they built luxurious summer "cottages" away from the grime of the city. The Belle Haven peninsula in Greenwich is home to one of the most spectacular residence parks in the country. Its development occurred rapidly between 1884 and 1894, transforming from scenic pastureland into a bastion of Victorian luxury. Victorian Summer features estate biographies of the notable houses, architects, and owners.