If you missed this series in 2023 -- or simply want a fresh perspective -- now’s your chance to revisit the Gilded Age, one of the most complex and captivating periods in American history. From 1877 to 1896, America saw explosive industrial growth, technological innovation, and immense wealth for a fortunate few. But beneath the glittering surface were the untold stories of those who made that world run.

In this third class of the series, Historians and authors Nancy Markey and Kay Adams shift the spotlight to the people who lived and labored behind the grand doors of families like the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and Carnegies. Much like the downstairs staff of Downton Abbey, America had its own domestic workforce -- maids, butlers, cooks, coachmen -- whose lives were defined by long hours and strict hierarchies.

Through rich storytelling and historical insight, Nancy and Kay bring to life the experiences of the working class during this era of opulence and inequality. Discover what daily life was really like for the staff who kept Gilded Age households running. While this is part of an ongoing series, each class stands alone; join us for one or many!