There is no shortage of incredible things and magnificent buildings to explore in the seaside town of Newport. That, of course, includes the famed Newport Mansions. In the late 1800s, Newport became a favorite playground for America’s rich and famous, as well as a preferred summer retreat. Accordingly, the opulent Newport Mansions of this Gilded Age were built.
Today, these mansions still stand, their grace and elegance a prominent feature of Newport’s seashore. The Newport Mansions Preservation Society maintains them. Many of the Newport Mansions are open for tours and serve as museums of these notable families. One of the most well-known Newport Mansions is “The Breakers,” the 70-room summer home of the Vanderbilt Family.
The Newport Mansions are easily accessed from our Newport RI Bed and Breakfast. Step back in time at our Newport RI Bed and Breakfast, and visit these incredible mansions this fall. Book a room today!
Visit the Famed Newport Mansions This Fall
There’s nothing quite like visiting the famed Newport Mansions. With the opulence of the Gilded Age on full display, it’s easy to see firsthand just how luxurious the life of the rich and famous can be. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but the history behind the families that owned and built these mansions is also equally as fascinating.
Though not all Newport Mansions are open at all times, here are the 8 mansions open to the public. Currently, The Elms, The Breakers, Marble House, and the Green Animals Topiary Garden are open.
- The Breakers is the most visited landmark in Newport, RI. It’s also the grandest of Newport’s summer “cottages” and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence in turn-of-the-century America.
- Marble House was one of the first homes to move away from wooden coastal-style houses to stone palaces. It was built between 1888-1892 as a summer home for members of the wealthy Vanderbilt family.
- The Elms was designed by architect Horace Trumbauer, who modeled the home after the mid-18th century French Chateau D’Asnieres. It was the summer home for the coal baron Edward Julius Berwind.
- Rosecliff was built by a silver heiress of Nevada and was designed to mirror the Grand Trianon of Versailles. This grand mansion was the backdrop for a few episodes of Antiques Roadshow in 2017, along with other films.
- Chateau-Sur-Mer is a museum of high Victorian architecture, including interior details such as wallpaper, furniture, and stenciling. It was the largest of the homes in Rhode Island until the Vanderbilt houses were built at the end of the 1800s.
- Kingscote is one of the more unique Newport Mansions, thanks to its Gothic Revival style. It’s also known as one of the first “cottages” built for the wealthy families in the area.
- The Green Animals Topiary Garden is a living sculpture garden with more than 80 topiaries in the shape of birds, animals, and geometric designs. Green Animals is the oldest and most northern topiary garden in the states.
Two other mansions worth visiting in the area are Blithewold Mansion, which offers sweeping views of Narragansett Bay, and Rough Point, once owned by Doris Duke. Other buildings to visit include the Isaac Bell House, Hunter House, and Chepstow.
Stay in the Heart of Newport at our Bed and Breakfast
While our Newport RI Bed and Breakfast may not have the opulence of the 50-room stone palaces of Newport, our Inn still reflects a special time in history. Moreover, staying at our Newport RI Bed and Breakfast gives guests a sense of warmth and relaxation – which is what most come here for in the first place!
Apart from offering comfortable accommodations and exceptional hospitality, we’ll also treat you to a delicious breakfast each morning of your stay. Whatever you want to do while here, from the Newport Mansions to the famed Cliff Walk, we’d be more than happy to help. Book your room at our Newport RI Bed and Breakfast today!
