What did people want during the gilded age?

Question

I am doing a newspaper for my history class, and I have to have a classified ads section.

Answer 1

Tools and skilled metal workers

Answer 2

You mean you are creating Gilded Age classified ads? That's a really cool assignment, if you don't mind my saying.

Here is a great site about the Samuel Cupples House museum and you can click on the "1890 Virtual House Tour" to see pictures of the floor plan and every room in the house. That might give you some ideas of common household items that people might have put in classified ads. One big thing they mention is the massive popularity of photography in this era, so maybe camera related items would be good, too.

http://www.slu.edu/the_arts/cupples/gilded.html

This link shows a typical gilded age household, including a list of common servants. You could use these for classified ads, too. Like, "Head Butler wanted at ___ House. Must have 10 years' experience in one of the best houses, etc."

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2388/2388_cultgild_info.pdf

Answer 3

People wanted anything over the top. The rich wanted to show off how rich they were. So, a solid gold sink, marble top tables, hand crafted ornate chairs, giant mansions...(I could go on and on) were all desired in the gilded age.