The Preservation Society of Newport County Celebrates 40 Millionth Tour at Surprise Event
Newport Mansions Celebrates Milestone and Launches Educational Social Media Contest
On
July 29th, 2019, The Preservation Society of Newport County (PSNC)
delivered its 40 millionth tour of the Newport Mansions since its
founding in 1945. David Denmark and Robin Levine Denmark, residents of
Cross River, New York, became the 40 millionth tour visitors when they
entered the The Breakers at approximately 10:00 in the morning. After
completing their scheduled tour, the Denmarks were honored in the Great
Hall of The Breakers by a host of dignitaries and was awarded a special
‘Gilded Age’ package by Preservation Society CEO and Executive Director
Trudy Coxe and Preservation Society Chairman Monty Burnham, which
includes an array of Newport experiences including two round-trip
airline tickets on United Airlines, a two-night/three-day stay at a
deluxe Newport property, a $150 gift card from Newport Restaurant Group,
membership in the Preservation Society of Newport County for one year, a
private tour of the mansions for two and a $250 gift card to The
Newport Mansions Gift Shop. The Preservation Society first began giving
tours in 1948, but it was not until 1965 that the organization reached
the cumulative total of one million tours. It took 17 years to reach the
first million tours, at an average rate of just under 59,000 tours a
year, and now hosts an average of one million tours annually.
“We are so proud of achieving this milestone. Elevating our attendance
numbers from 59,000 tours annually to one million per year is quite a
feat,” said Trudy Coxe. “We were created to preserve the buildings and
landscapes of Newport. I’m sure our founder, Kathryne Warren, would be
so proud of this moment. The truth is, even with this kind of growth, we
still do not raise all the funds we need to keep the buildings and
grounds in good condition.”
To allow the public to join in the celebration of the this milestone,
The PSNC is launching an educational social media contest today on its Instagram page
@newport_mansions, which will culminate in a grand prize winner to be
announced on August 19th. The contest seeks to raise awareness of the
organization’s educational programs, historic mission, and economic
impact. Entrants will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes
with two winners being named each week. Upon the conclusion of the
contest, one grand prize winner will receive a “Newport Experience”
package similar to the surprise gift given to the 40 millionth tour
visitor.
“This milestone is proof that Americans still care about history and the
rest of the world still cares about American history,” said Monty
Burnham, Chairman of the Board, The Preservation Society of Newport
County. “People come from all 50 states and 125 countries every year to
tour the mansions.”
“It would be hard to overstate the economic and cultural benefits to the
Aquidneck Island community from The Preservation Society,” said Paul
O’Reilly, CEO, Newport Harbor Corporation. “They are not only the number
one tourist attraction in Newport that the local Hospitality Industry
absolutely relies on, they are also quite possibly the largest and most
consistent investor back into our community due to the funds they spend
maintaining a large portfolio of treasured community real estate
assets.”
The Newport Mansions currently consist of nine houses, The Breakers
Stables and the Green Animals Topiary Garden. The Breakers was the first
property to open for tours in 1948 with the purpose of raising money to
save Hunter House. Not long afterward, Hunter House opened for tours
along with The Breakers Stables, and in 1962, The Elms joined the
lineup. In rapid succession, Marble House, Chateau-sur-Mer, Kingscote
and Rosecliff also opened to tours. Green Animals Topiary Garden
followed suit, followed by Chepstow, and the Isaac Bell House in 1996.
“Perhaps no other stakeholder in our destination has done more to
attract visitors from around the globe to our destination than the
Newport Mansions,” said Evan Smith, President & CEO, Discover
Newport. “I don’t think there is any other place in the world that
better showcases the confluence of America’s illustrious Gilded Age
history with European-inspired architecture and on such a grand scale.
As Rhode Island's largest cultural organization, The Preservation
Society of Newport County’s efforts to protect, preserve and most of
all, share these properties with visitors is a treasure beyond compare
and we send our sincere congratulations on your 40 millionth tour.”
The Newport Mansions are one of the most visited tourism destinations in
New England, delivering more than one million tours annually which
places it in the top four most-visited museums in New England. It is the
largest member-supported organization in the state of Rhode Island with
more than 40,000 members and is accredited by the American Alliance of
Museums. Of the 30,000 museums in the United States, approximately 1,000
are accredited by this prestigious organization.
"The impact that The Preservation Society of Newport County has had on
the local economy by attracting visitors and growing our tourism
industry for the Greater Newport region cannot be overstated,” said Erin
Donovan-Boyle, Executive Director, Newport County Chamber of
Commerce. “Katherine Warren, in initially working with the support of the
Newport Chamber of Commerce, was a visionary who knew the value
of historical preservation and the importance of keeping our community
intact for generations to come. Receiving the 40 millionth visitor
exemplifies the relevance of that vision and the importance of
placemaking and good public policy relative to well rounded community
development, growth and preservation."