Instrumental in the founding of the Metropolitan Opera in 1883.
A tremendous supporter of women's suffrage, her funeral had all-women pallbearers.
Her brother-in-law, August Belmont, Jr., was the builder of the Belmont Park racetrack.
Her maternal grandfather, Robert Desha, was a Congressman from 1827 - 1831. Her maternal uncle, Joseph Desha, was governor of Kentucky from 1824 - 1828.