Interviews, documentaries, auction footage, and the story of a man who built cruise lines, collected $323 million in art, and never owned a cell phone.
Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park, Kirkwood, Missouri. The house Barney saved with a $1M donation, named for his parents Alec and Bernice Ebsworth.
Barney on camera at the National Gallery discussing his collection, his philosophy, and what drove him to collect American Modernism.
Watch at NGA →“He was so proud of his collection, it was like an extension of his personality.” Christie’s video profile of Barney and the collection before the $323M auction.
Watch on Facebook →The definitive interview. Two days at Hunts Point. Covers his entire life in his own words. Audio confirmed; video may exist. Transcript available.
Access at Smithsonian →The actual moment. Auctioneer Jussi Pylkkänen. The bidding. The hammer. $91.9 million for two women in a Chinese restaurant. The most expensive American painting ever sold at auction.
Watch the hammer fall →Analysis of the broken SAM promise with auction video. The best headline of the whole affair.
Watch & read →Expert analysis of the $91.9M painting. “Quieter social commentary.” Women dining without male escort — a social revolution on canvas.
Watch on PBS →The first comprehensive documentary on Edward Hopper. Features Chop Suey, Nighthawks, letters, diary entries, rare archival footage. Premiered Jan 2, 2024.
Watch on PBS →Official audio tour of the 46-foot sculpture Barney donated to the Olympic Sculpture Park. The face looking toward Mount Olympus with eyes closed.
Listen on SoundCloud →Complete video tour of the FLW house Barney saved with a $1M donation. Named for his parents Alec and Bernice. Interviews with original owner Russell Kraus and builder Lee Patterson.
Watch on YouTube →History, construction, and restoration of the home. Includes interviews with homeowner Russell Kraus and builder Lee Patterson.
Watch at ebsworthpark.org →Documentary on the Grand Hall where Barney’s grandfather Barney W. Frauenthal ran the Bureau of Information. The travel gene started here in 1894.
Watch on Vimeo →The architect’s documentation of the $20M Hunts Point house. “Both about nature and about art, a backdrop for both.” Portuguese limestone, stained cedar, glass bridge.
View project →Full flight from check-in to arrival. Sound barrier wave visible at 7-minute mark. INTRAV chartered 28 Concorde circumnavigations — this is what the passengers experienced.
Watch →Actual passenger experience in the final year before retirement. The cabin, the Mach meter, champagne at Mach 2.
Watch →Vintage postcards of all three Royal Cruise Line ships: Golden Odyssey, Royal Odyssey, Crown Odyssey. The fleet Barney built with Pericles Panagopoulos.
View postcards →Yacht tour past Gates, Bezos, Ballmer homes on Lake Washington. Passes Barney’s former house at 4053 Hunts Point Road. Documentary filming opportunity.
Book the tour →75-minute guided tour of the home where Barney married Trish Kloepfer with O’Keeffe as witness and Maggie Lopez as best man. 12 people per tour. Reservation required.
Book a tour →Profile of Agapita “Pita” Lopez — O’Keeffe’s secretary who witnessed Barney’s wedding. She is talking publicly. A key interview subject.
Read profile →News video about the future of Barney’s high school — Cleveland High in Dutchtown, the Gothic castle where he ran the quarter-mile.
Watch →Historical photos of Barney’s high school from the 1910s through its closing.
View gallery →An actual INTRAV “Around the World by Supersonic Concorde” travel bag with shoulder strap. A physical artifact from trips that no longer exist, on a plane that no longer flies.
View on eBay →Every source used in the biography, organized by category. 100+ annotated links covering art, ships, family, legal, architecture, and more.
Browse all links →This website is an independent biographical research project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, authorized by, or connected to the estate of Barney A. Ebsworth, Christiane Ebsworth Ladd, the Ebsworth Foundation, Perkins Coie LLP, or any entity associated with the Ebsworth family. All information presented is derived from publicly available sources including published interviews, news articles, and family accounts. No representation is made that this site speaks for or on behalf of the Ebsworth estate or any family member. Photographs and images are used under fair use for biographical, educational, and commentary purposes. For corrections or concerns, contact wholetechtexas@gmail.com.