Read
Scripts &
Listen to Audio
2004 Broadcasts
2005 Broadcasts
2006 Broadcasts
Culbertson
Mansion
MP3 Audio
The Culbertson Mansion… on this Moment of Indiana History.
William S.
Culbertson was once considered the wealthiest man in Indiana. He was born
in New Market, Pennsylvania in 1814, but left at age 21 to seek his fortune.
He settled in New Albany, Indiana and by age 46 had become a prosperous
independent businessman. Twice a widower, he married for the third time
at age 70. At the time of his death in 1892, he had a net worth of 3.5
million dollars. In today’s economy that would equal about $61
million.
In 1867, he spent about $120,000 to build his mansion in New Albany. The
three- story French, Second-Empire Mansion, contains 25 rooms in more
than 20,000 square feet of space, which includes hand-painted ceilings,
a carved rosewood staircase, marble fireplaces and crystal chandeliers.
In 1976, the mansion became an official state historic site. Visitors today may view the dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchen, laundry room, and grand parlors of the mansion to glimpse the lifestyle of Victorian fortune-makers and their servant staffs.
This Moment of Indiana History is a production of the Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations in association with the Indiana Historical Society. More information is available at “Moment of Indiana history dot org."