Stephen Whitney, the "Cotton King"

Another of the fabulous Green-Wood mausoleums open to the public during openhousenewyork weekend, was that of cotton speculator, Stephen Whitney. I had always wanted to see inside, as to me this structure gives the impression of a stone cottage, despite its Gothic architectural style. It looked nothing like I envisoned (a cozy living room with a fireplace, lol), but captured my attention instead because of the symbolism on the crypt covers. At the time of Whitney's death, in 1860, he was reported to be the second richest man in the world. Yet, as the placard above notes, "he was no spender." His heirs had this octagonal-shaped mausoleum built in his honor.