Bradley-Martin Costume Ball in NYC tried raising spirits and the economy
After the 1897 Long Depression left New York City in an economic tailspin, one of its wealthiest residents, Cornelia Bradley-Martin, decided to host a massive party to jump-start the city’s economy. This wasn’t your typical get-together–it was fit for royalty.
The inside of the Waldorf Hotel was designed with a Versailles theme, and approximately 800 socialites from various countries took part in the procession, dressed as emperors and empresses. Swords clanked while feet stomped to music; altogether, the event cost $9.7 million in modern-day currency.