Heart-Rending Facts About Evelyn Nesbit, The Face Of The Gilded Age
Evelyn Nesbit’s undeniable beauty enchanted the masses, but for one man, it inspired a chilling, deep-seated obsession. While her famous features made her the darling of the Gilded Age, her dark secrets mirrored the era’s roiling undercurrents.
Her story is equal parts sensational, explosive, and tragic—but despite all this, her resilience reigns supreme.
Evelyn Nesbit Facts
1. She Made The Papers
Evelyn Nesbit, born on Christmas Day 1884, had a face destined for adoration. The local paper reported on her birth with only her looks in mind, writing that “She was the most beautiful baby ever born in the county.”
Her divine features defined her from the beginning, but it was her father who nurtured her inner dreamer.
2. She Was A Daddy’s Girl
Nesbit was a daddy’s girl, with her father wilfully encouraging little Evelyn's love of music, dance, and fantastical stories. Looking back, he was the only man she could ever depend on. And then something terrible happened.
When Nesbit was only 10 years old, her comfortable childhood came to an abrupt and tearful end.
3. She Was A Nomad
When Nesbit’s father passed unexpectedly at the age of 40, he left his family in dire straits. They lost everything to his outstanding debts.
From then on, the Nesbits struggled to find a home, moving constantly and living off the generosity of friends and family. Barely scraping by, her mother opened a boarding house, before packing it in and moving to Philadelphia.
It was here that Nesbit’s life changed forever.
