The early nineteenth century in New Bedford was a time of unimaginable wealth, intellectual ferment and artistic treasures. Prosperous whaling magnates like members of the Rotch, Morgan and Howland families commissioned the nation's finest architects to design and construct their majestic mansions. The city's architectural and cultural expansion brought great writers and artists like Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson into the homes of County Street's elite. Yet behind the elegant façade of grand parties and notable house guests were the secrets and scandals of New Bedford's upper crust. Join author Peggi Medeiros as she chronicles the history of each mansion and the stories once hidden behind closed doors.