Operating Schedule
See which of the mansions are open and when. Search by date or month, or view the full year’s schedule.
Guest Information
View our FAQs, parking information, guidelines and more.
Tours, Groups, Exclusive Experiences
Explore our various tour types to find what’s best for you and your group.
Accessibility
See specific information about access at each house and property.
History of Newport and the Mansions
Founded in 1639, Newport was an important port city, a center of the slave trade, a fashionable resort and the summer home of the Gilded Age rich.
What was the Gilded Age?
The Gilded Age was a period of unprecedented change in America. Fortunes were spent on luxuries such as the lavish "summer cottages" of Newport.
Deep Dive into the Show
Learn about the people, places and events depicted in Julian Fellowes' popular historical drama series.
“Inside the Newport Mansions” Gilded Age Conversations
Noted historians and authors share their insights into all aspects of Gilded Age America in this monthly series of interviews with the Preservation Society.
Become a Member
We invite you to become a member of the Preservation Society today.
Premium Memberships
We invite you to join these exclusive levels of membership for patrons interested in enhanced access and benefits at the Preservation Society.
Current Members
As a member, you can enjoy unlimited general admission to our properties and do not need tickets. Simply bring your membership card for admission.
Membership FAQs
Membership gives you free, unlimited access to regular guided and audio tours at all Newport Mansions properties.
About Us
Our mission is to protect, preserve, and present the best of Newport County's architectural heritage. Learn more about us and our work.
Wind Farm Federal Appeal: FAQs
The Preservation Society of Newport County is appealing federal agency approval of two massive wind farms off the Rhode Island coast.
Personal Photography on the Grounds
Rent our museums for commercial photography & videography, TV production, and wedding photography.
Commercial Filming or Photography
Museum Rentals & Weddings
Host your wedding, rehearsal dinner, corporate event, or other celebration at our historic museums.
Our Spring 2026 online auction offers unforgettable opportunities to make memories you will treasure forever. Whether you favor the subtle or the sublime, you will find a carefully curated experience to suit your taste. Bid high – and delight in the extraordinary.
See all 18 Auction items below!
All bids support the Preservation Society’s mission to protect, preserve, and present an exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes in one of the most historically intact cities in America.
Take your place at the table and in society with an unforgettable Gilded Age-inspired experience at Marble House. This exclusive package invites you and nine guests to enjoy a personal guided tour followed by an elegant terrace lunch overlooking the Atlantic, in the very setting where Alva Vanderbilt entertained, strategized and advanced her bold social and political ambitions... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Exclusive personal tour of Marble House with a dedicated guide for up to 10 guests. • Terrace lunch for 10 under the covered awning with lunch service. • A 2-hour experience. Scheduling: Date to be mutually agreed upon. 60-day advance notice of date request required. Subject to vendor availability. Not redeemable for cash. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $1,800 Bid Increments: $200 Fair Market Value: $5,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Bring home the stories of Newport’s great houses and pastimes, one carefully chosen volume at a time. This Newport Mansions Book of the Month experience delivers a full year of surprise reads, selected by our museum store staff and inspired by history, design, personalities and preservation of the Gilded Age. Expect high-quality, beautifully produced, large-format coffee-table–style books with rich photography, scholarly insight and elegant design. These are books meant to be displayed, revisited and treasured... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • 12 curated books. One delivered each month; signed copy when available. • The first book will arrive with mansion-themed bookmarks or reading accessories. Details & Restrictions: • Domestic shipping included. • Subscription begins the month following the auction (April 2026). • No title substitutions. • Non-transferable, no cash value. • International shipping is available at an additional cost. • Items must be redeemed by May 2027. CURRENT HIGH BID: $900 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $1,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Host your own after-hours private salon, a small, elegant, conversation-centered gathering where guests mingle, sip and engage with ideas, art and culture, high above the grand halls of The Breakers in the mansion's storied family spaces on the third floor. Designed in the spirit of Gilded Age social salons, this exclusive experience for up to 10 guests blends refined hospitality with lively historical discovery. Originating in the 17th- and 18th-century homes of Europe, these gatherings were curated by a salonnière (hostess) who moderated discussions, blending social pleasure with artistic debate... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Private third-floor reception for up to 10 guests. • Wine and canapé reception (bite-sized, standing format). • Rotating short-format discovery talks by a knowledgeable member of the curatorial staff. • A 2-hour experience. Scheduling: Date to be mutually agreed upon. 60-day advance scheduling required. Subject to vendor availability. Non-transferable. No cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $1,400 Bid Increments: $200 Fair Market Value: $5,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Experience your own version of the world of HBO’s "The Gilded Age" with an exclusive after-hours dinner for 10 in the historic service areas of The Elms, including the atmospheric below-stairs kitchen and work spaces that have appeared in many pivotal staff scenes across the series’ first three seasons, where the drama, hierarchy and daily rhythms of Gilded Age household life unfold... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Private after-hours access for up to 10 guests. • Guided Servant Life behind-the-scenes tour. • Exclusive use of the historic kitchen/service area. • Family-style dinner and beverage service. Scheduling: Date by mutual agreement. A 3-hour private experience. 60-day advance date request required. Subject to vendor availability. Non-transferable. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $1,700 Bid Increments: $200 Fair Market Value: $8,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Enter the relaxed, yet still grand, side of the Gilded Age with a private Carriage House grilling-style supper for up to 20 guests at the historic Breakers Stable. This distinctive evening blends comfort food, beer and immersive history inside one of Newport’s most atmospheric estate support buildings... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Exclusive evening event at The Breakers Stable for up to 20 guests. • Private access to the vintage coach and carriage collection. • Barbeque-style menu. • Beer and curated beverage service. • Short behind-the-scenes stable history talk. Scheduling: Date by mutual agreement. 3-hour private experience. 60-day advance date request required. Subject to vendor availability. Non-transferable. No cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $3,000 Bid Increments: $500 Fair Market Value: $10,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Embrace the past with your own Victorian Garden Fête at Chateau-sur-Mer, a lively, elegant outdoor party inspired by Newport’s Gilded Age entertaining traditions... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Late afternoon/early evening lawn access for up to 12 guests. • Croquet and badminton lawn games. • Wine, lemonade and iced tea beverages. • Light garden party menu, savory and sweet. • Brief welcome and arrival tour of first-floor rooms. Scheduling: Date by mutual agreement. A 3-hour experience. 60-day advance date request required. Subject to vendor availability. Non-transferable. No cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $1,200 Bid Increments: $200 Fair Market Value: $6,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Slow down and savor Newport the way summer residents once did with a personal, architecture-rich experience and a leisurely porch luncheon along Bellevue Avenue... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Personal guided tour of Kingscote. • Personal guided tour of Isaac Bell House. • Leisurely porch luncheon at Isaac Bell House. • Exclusive experience for up to six guests. Scheduling: Date mutually agreed upon. A 3-hour experience. 60-day advance reservation date request required. Subject to vendor availability. Non-transferable. No cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $600 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $3,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Entertain in true Newport style with a private afternoon games party in the Conservatory at The Elms for up to eight guests. Inspired by the gracious social traditions of Miss Julia Berwind, the estate’s last family resident and noted hostess of bridge games, this exclusive experience invites you and your guests to gather for an elegant, small-group bridge or mahjong party in one of the house's most beautiful rooms... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Conservatory access for up to 3 hours for an afternoon or early evening gathering. • Two game tables with four chairs each. • Winners must provide their own game supplies, i.e., bridge or mahjong set/s. • Tea, coffee and sparkling wine service. • Tea sandwiches and sweets. • Brief staff welcome and details about The Elms. Scheduling: Date mutually agreed upon. A 3-hour experience. 60-day advance reservation date request required. Subject to vendor availability. Non-transferable. No cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $1,500 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $4,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Prepare for an evening where mystery meets wonder at "Illusion & Illumination," the Preservation Society’s Summer Dinner Dance, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Rosecliff. Cloaked in elegance and a touch of illusion, attendees will don their most dazzling masks, from classic Venetian-inspired designs to modern, artful creations, transforming the ballroom and sweeping back lawn into a living tableau of intrigue and glamour. Behind every mask is a smile, a surprise and a little mischief, as the spirit of the Gilded Age springs vividly to life... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Summer Dinner Dance, Saturday, August 8, at Rosecliff. • A reserved table for 10 at the Patron Supporter level. • Black tie, valet parking, cocktails, dinner and dancing, 7 pm to midnight. CURRENT HIGH BID: $16,000 Bid Increments: $1,000 Fair Market Value: $15,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Enjoy an exclusive insider experience at The Elms, one of Newport’s most celebrated Gilded Age houses, designed by renowned architect Horace Trumbauer. This special package for four includes a personal guided exploration of the house and a fun and enlightening conversation over lunch with the Preservation Society’s Executive Director, the long-time caretaker who knows The Elms inside and out, and our Landscape Curator, who can share the history of the evolution of the landscape and gardens... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Personal guided tour of The Elms for four guests. • Lunch for four at The Elms Carriage House Museum Café. • Hosted conversation with the Executive Director, longtime caretaker of The Elms and Landscape Curator. • Opportunity for Q&A on preservation strategy and museum stewardship. Scheduling: Date mutually agreed upon. A 3-hour experience. 60-day advance reservation date request required. Subject to vendor availability. Non-transferable. No cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $700 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $4,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Celebrate a milestone year at the spectacular Newport Flower Show with this weekend package filled with festive events and engaging lectures. Perfect for garden lovers, design enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys Newport at its most colorful, this 30th anniversary weekend experience lets you enjoy the show in style, from the lively Opening Night Party, where you’ll see “everyone,” to the debut of our exclusive “In Full Bloom” Hat Luncheon... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Opening Night Party – 4 Tickets. • Exclusive “In Full Bloom” Hat Luncheon – 4 Tickets. • Three-day Flower Show admission and reserved lecture seating. Includes 4 daily Flower Show admission tickets (12 total tickets, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and 4 reserved seats for any lecture presentations throughout the weekend. Choose from expert talks on horticulture, floral design, landscape architecture and garden trends. Scheduling: Winner agrees to confirm specific dates and times for the preferred lectures at least 7 days in advance to allow for four reserved seats to be set aside. Subject to availability. Non-transferable. No cash value. CURRENT HIGH BID: $7,100 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $4,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Step inside one of the legendary Newport Mansions for an exclusive, after-hours photography experience unlike any other. Hosted at a Preservation Society property such as The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms or Rosecliff, this private two-hour session offers rare access to the mansion’s extraordinary interiors and grounds when the museum doors are closed to the public... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Two-hour private, after-hours access for up to 12 people. • This item is intended for personal portrait photography only (non-commercial use). Scheduling: Photographer not included. Date mutually agreed upon. Two-hour access to one property before or after public hours. A 60-day advance reservation request is required. Subject to availability. Non-transferable and no cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $1,000 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $3,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Do not miss your chance to claim one of the most coveted holiday experiences of the year. This special opportunity allows the winning bidder to invite friends to an unforgettable black-tie Holiday Dinner Dance at the iconic Breakers in December 2026. This is not just a party, it is a grand seasonal celebration wrapped in elegance, music and dazzling décor... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Holiday Dinner Dance, Saturday, December 19, at The Breakers. • 1 reserved table for 10 guests in the Great Hall or State Dining Room (your choice). • Black-tie reception with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, seated multi-course holiday dinner, dancing and live entertainment. Five-hour event, 7 pm – 12 am CURRENT HIGH BID: $6,000 Bid Increments: $500 Fair Market Value: $7,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Experience an extraordinary evening of dining and history at Rosecliff, one of Newport’s most dazzling Gilded Age landmarks. Completed in 1902 for silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs and inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles, Rosecliff quickly became synonymous with legendary entertaining. Its luminous façade, sweeping oceanfront terrace and magnificent interiors remain a testament to an era defined by elegance and refined hospitality....Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Cocktails and seated dinner for up to 16 guests. • A curated collection of objects presented by a Preservation Society expert. Scheduling: Date mutually agreed upon. A 4-hour experience. A 60-day advance reservation request is required. Subject to vendor availability, non-transferable — no cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $5,000 Bid Increments: $1,000 Fair Market Value: $14,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Host an unforgettable evening at The Elms, one of Newport’s most opulent Gilded Age homes. Inspired by the 18th-century French Château d’Asnières and completed in 1901 for coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind, The Elms was designed for grand entertaining. Its lavish Ballroom, overlooking multi-level garden terraces and the sweeping back lawn, provides a setting of elegance and landscape beauty... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Wine & hors d’oeuvre reception for up to eight guests. Scheduling: Date to be mutually agreed upon. This experience is offered as a two-hour event, with the start time scheduled approximately two hours prior to sunset on the selected date. A minimum of 60 days' advance reservation is required. Subject to vendor availability. Non-transferable and has no cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027. Weekend availability may be limited. CURRENT HIGH BID: $1,600 Bid Increments: $200 Fair Market Value: $4,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Be among the first to secure access to one of the most sought-after evenings of the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival in 2026 — the Vintner Dinner at Rosecliff. This exclusive auction package includes early-reservation access to the always sold-out Vintner Dinner, an extraordinary evening of fine wine, exceptional cuisine and elegant hospitality set within the grandeur of the Ballroom at Rosecliff. In addition, this experience includes tickets to the lively Jazz Brunch on Sunday of Wine Festival Weekend... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Friday, September 18, 2026: Vintner Dinner – 4 guests. • Sunday, September 20, 2026: Jazz Brunch Tickets – 4 guests. • Sunday, September 20, 2026: Tasting Tent Access – 4 guests. Scheduling: Subject to the 2026 Festival final event schedule. Non-transferable. No cash value. CURRENT HIGH BID: $2,000 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $3,000 Place Your Bid Here!
Children and grandchildren alike will love the opportunity to spend time with you, enjoying this gift of discovery, creativity and adventure with this exclusive Family Program Pass at the iconic Newport Mansions properties... This exclusive option guarantees two children reserved spots in any 2026 family programs, even the sessions that traditionally sell out. Skip the waitlists and secure a season filled with hands-on learning and fun... Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Guaranteed complimentary enrollment for two children in all or a few scheduled 2026 youth or family programs. Scheduling: Advance registration required. Attendees at programs must align with age guidelines. Family programs are generally appropriate for ages 4 to 10 years. Subject to the 2026 family program event schedule. Non-transferable. No cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027 CURRENT HIGH BID: $100 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $500 Place Your Bid Here!
Treat yourself or someone special to an unforgettable day of music and history at the Newport Mansions. This experience pairs world-class performances with personal guided visits at some of Newport’s most iconic mansion properties for two guests...Click here to read more! Experience Includes: • Morning concert with Newport Classical. • Reservations for two for a seated lunch at The Elms Carriage House Museum Café. • A personal guided tour experience at Marble House. • Evening Newport Classical concert at The Breakers. Scheduling: Advance registration required. Winner asked to select their date when the Newport Classical program lineup becomes available so seats can be reserved and other reservations secured for tours and lunch. Non-transferable. No cash value. Unless stated otherwise, items must be redeemed by May 2027 Winner must select their preferred date for tours and concerts prior to April 8, 2026 to ensure availability. • Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at The Elms (11 am) and The Breakers (8 pm) • Thursday, July 9, 2026, at The Elms (11 am) and The Breakers (8 pm) • Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Elms (11 am) and The Breakers (8 pm) • Thursday, July 16, 2026, at The Elms (11 am) and The Breakers (8 pm) CURRENT HIGH BID: $600 Bid Increments: $100 Fair Market Value: $3,500 Place Your Bid Here!
Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time. Tour times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
For the first time in the 130-year history of The Breakers, the private third-floor family space occupied by generations of Vanderbilts is open for public tours. Tour times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
See and hear how the other half lived. This tour will highlight the stories of some of the men and women who worked to service the social whirl of Newport during the Gilded Age. Tour times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
This series of programs, listed below, offers glimpses into the work that happens behind the scenes at the Newport Mansions, including curatorial, conservation, preservation, historical research and interpretation.
“Full Circle” revisits Newport's groundbreaking 1974 outdoor sculpture exhibition "Monumenta" through the work of Richard Fleischner, one of the last living participating artists, and his contemporaries.
Learn about our latest exhibition spotlighting Richard Fleischner’s work with a guided tour led by one of the primary collaborators on the exhibition. Offered on select dates.
SOLD OUT
Stop by Rosecliff and get creative—all ages and ability levels welcome. Learn a little piece of history and try your hand at being creative. Offered on select dates; see event webpage for details.
Grace Acton, Archival Research Fellow, provides a unique tour of Chepstow through the eyes of an archivist. Program offered March 6 & March 26
Archival Research Fellow Megan O’Connell provides an inside look at how archival materials breathe life into Kingscote and offer a richer understanding of the lives of its occupants. Program offered March 5 & March 27
Peek behind the curtain of the Preservation Society’s summer 2026 "Revolution Reimagined" exhibition with Curatorial Research Fellow Mya Rose Bailey. Program offered March 20 & April 2
"Pearls of Newport" is the perfect theme for the 30th anniversary Newport Flower Show, celebrating the city's coastal identity and maritime history. Tickets available in early April 2026
Three days of fun and educational seminars, tastings, dinners and the fan-favorite Sunday Brunch await you at Rosecliff! Tickets available in early July 2026
Founded in 1993, the Newport Symposium has been an annual convening of fine and decorative arts experts and enthusiasts from across the country and the world. Attendees listen to stimulating lectures, experience behind-the-scenes study opportunities and gather together to network and discuss the future of our history.
Download our tour app before your visit and bring your earbuds.
Parking is free onsite at all properties except for Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, where street parking is available.
Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Explore the 11 properties under the stewardship of the Preservation Society and open as historic house museums.
Partners in Preservation
Treat yourself or someone special to an unforgettable day of music and history at the Newport Mansions. This experience pairs world-class performances with personal guided visits at some of Newport’s most iconic mansion properties for two guests.
Begin your day with a beautiful Newport Classical concert at The Elms — an inspiring musical start in a spectacular historic setting. After the concert, you’ll savor lunch at The Elms Carriage House Museum Café. Next, enjoy a personal guided tour experience at Marble House. If you still crave more Grand Tours, continue your afternoon with a self-paced tour of Rosecliff and a visit to the second-floor “Revolution Reimagined” exhibition, or you could choose to enjoy all that Newport has to offer downtown on your own for the afternoon.
Return in the evening for another extraordinary Newport Classical performance set within one of America’s most celebrated historic houses — The Breakers. The perfect finale for your unforgettable Newport day.
Children and grandchildren alike will love the opportunity to spend time with you, enjoying this gift of discovery, creativity and adventure with this exclusive Family Program Pass at the iconic Newport Mansions properties.
This exclusive option guarantees two children reserved spots in any 2026 family programs, even the sessions that traditionally sell out. Skip the waitlists and secure a season filled with hands-on learning and fun.
From art and craft workshops to interactive storytelling and immersive experiences, young participants will explore history while creating unforgettable memories across the Newport Mansions.
Perfect for curious minds, budding artists and families who believe adventures are best served with a touch of education.
Be among the first to secure access to one of the most sought-after evenings of the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival in 2026 — the Vintner Dinner at Rosecliff. This exclusive auction package includes early-reservation access to the always sold-out Vintner Dinner, an extraordinary evening of fine wine, exceptional cuisine and elegant hospitality set within the grandeur of the Ballroom at Rosecliff.
In addition, this experience includes tickets to the lively Jazz Brunch on Sunday of Wine Festival Weekend, offering another opportunity to savor the flavors, atmosphere and celebration that define this premier culinary event. Guests attending the Jazz Brunch will also enjoy access to the lively Tasting Tent at the 2026 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, where you can sample an array of wines, spirits and food samples from sponsors and culinary artisans.
From sparkling glasses beneath glittering chandeliers to relaxed daytime indulgence, this package delivers a full weekend immersion into Newport’s most celebrated food and wine tradition.
Host an unforgettable evening at The Elms, one of Newport’s most opulent Gilded Age homes. Inspired by the 18th-century French château d’Asnières and completed in 1901 for coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind, The Elms was designed for grand entertaining. Its lavish Ballroom, overlooking multi-level garden terraces and the sweeping back lawn, provides a setting of elegance and landscape beauty.
Your private event for eight guests begins with a cocktail reception in the magnificent Ballroom or the garden terraces, where your guests will gather to enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres. The atmosphere will evoke the glamour and sophistication of Newport’s legendary summer social season.
As golden hour approaches, guests will ascend to the rooftop terrace, an exclusive vantage point rarely experienced, to take in sweeping views of the gardens, Newport Harbor and beyond. With glasses in hand, watch the sun dip below the horizon as The Elms glows in the warm light of dusk.
Perfect for a memorable evening with friends, this experience offers timeless elegance, breathtaking views and the rare opportunity to entertain in one of Newport’s most iconic historic houses.
Experience an extraordinary evening of dining and history at Rosecliff, one of Newport’s most dazzling Gilded Age landmarks.
Completed in 1902 for silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs and inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles, Rosecliff quickly became synonymous with legendary entertaining. Its luminous façade, sweeping oceanfront terrace and magnificent interiors remain a testament to an era defined by elegance and refined hospitality.
Your exclusive evening for up to 16 guests begins with wine and small bites on the beautiful, covered terrace with stunning ocean views. From there, guests will be welcomed into the historic Dining Room, where you and your guests will be seated for a three-course chef-style menu.
With each course, a Preservation Society curator will present a carefully selected object from the collection. Together, the curator and chef create a seamless experience where culinary artistry meets cultural storytelling. From exquisite decorative arts to personal treasures of Newport’s Gilded Age families, each object will spark conversation and reveal rare, behind-the-scenes insights into the lives and traditions that shaped Newport’s celebrated history.
This is more than a dinner — it is an immersive journey into Newport’s golden era of entertaining, where architecture, artistry and elegant dining come together for one unforgettable night.
Do not miss your chance to claim one of the most coveted holiday experiences of the year. This special opportunity allows the winning bidder to invite friends to an unforgettable black-tie Holiday Dinner Dance at the iconic Breakers in December 2026. This is not just a party, it is a grand seasonal celebration wrapped in elegance, music and dazzling décor.
Your evening begins with a festive cocktail reception and hors d’oeuvres, followed by an exquisite multi-course holiday dinner served in spectacular surroundings in the Great Hall and majestic State Dining Room. Then take to the dance floor for an evening of live music in the beautifully decorated historic rooms glowing with holiday splendor. Every detail is designed to deliver holiday magic.
This black-tie evening sells out every year.
Step inside one of the legendary Newport Mansions for an exclusive, after-hours photography experience unlike any other. Hosted at a Preservation Society property such as The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms or Rosecliff, this private two-hour session offers rare access to the mansion’s extraordinary interiors and grounds when the museum doors are closed to the public.
Whether capturing a cherished family portrait, marking a milestone anniversary, creating holiday cards in a grand historic setting or simply celebrating a special chapter in your life, this experience provides a breathtaking backdrop both indoors and out. From sweeping staircases and gilded salons to manicured gardens and ocean views, each frame reflects the timeless elegance of the Gilded Age.
Celebrate a milestone year at the spectacular Newport Flower Show with this weekend package filled with festive events and engaging lectures. Perfect for garden lovers, design enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys Newport at its most colorful, this 30th anniversary weekend experience lets you enjoy the show in style, from the lively Opening Night Party, where you’ll see “everyone,” to the debut of our exclusive “In Full Bloom” Hat Luncheon.
Kick off Flower Show weekend at the can’t-miss Opening Night Party, Friday, June 19, 2026. You will enjoy festive décor, floral artistry and a lively party atmosphere with fellow supporters and sponsors.
Plan your adornments now to attend the Flower Show’s newest and most fashionable luncheon event on Saturday, June 20, 2026. This is sure to be a sell-out. The Hat Luncheon blends flowers, flair and creativity. Guests are encouraged to wear their most imaginative garden-inspired hats while enjoying a beautiful luncheon set in a tent on the sweeping back lawn in the heart of The Newport Flower Show.
Enjoy an exclusive insider experience at The Elms, one of Newport’s most celebrated Gilded Age houses, designed by renowned architect Horace Trumbauer. This special package for four includes a personal guided exploration of the house and a fun and enlightening conversation over lunch with the Preservation Society’s Executive Director, the long-time caretaker who knows the Elms inside and out, and our Landscape Curator, who can share the history of the evolution of the landscape and gardens.
Your experience will continue after your personal tour, over lunch at The Elms Carriage House Museum Café. Bring your questions and curiosity as your hosts share insights into the modern-day realities of preserving and operating a historic mansion, from conservation priorities and restoration decisions to balancing authenticity, access and visitor experience across multiple properties. You will also hear behind-the-scenes stories, unusual maintenance methods and fun, little-known facts about this well-loved property and its rich history.
Prepare for an evening where mystery meets wonder at “Illusion & Illumination,” the Preservation Society’s Summer Dinner Dance set against the breathtaking backdrop of Rosecliff.
Cloaked in elegance and a touch of illusion, attendees will don their most dazzling masks, from classic Venetian-inspired designs to modern, artful creations, transforming the ballroom and sweeping back lawn into a living tableau of intrigue and glamour. Behind every mask is a smile, a surprise and a little mischief, as the spirit of the Gilded Age springs vividly to life.
Commissioned in 1899 by silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs and inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles, Rosecliff was designed by renowned architect Stanford White as a showcase for spectacular entertaining. Its sweeping staircase, luminous ballroom and stunning ocean views have welcomed society’s most glittering gatherings for more than a century. On this special evening, you and your guests will continue that tradition in unforgettable style.
As candlelight flickers, music swells and masks shimmer beneath the stars, illusion gives way to illumination, and an unforgettable night unfolds.
Entertain in true Newport style with a private afternoon games party in the Conservatory at The Elms for up to eight guests. Inspired by the gracious social traditions of Miss Julia Berwind, the estate’s last family resident and noted hostess of bridge games, this exclusive experience invites you and your guests to gather for an elegant, small-group bridge or mahjong party in one of the house’s most beautiful rooms. Miss Berwind helped extend the life of Newport’s social traditions into the modern era by adapting them to more intimate formats.
Your guests will enjoy exclusive access to this luminous garden room, a serene architectural jewel designed for leisure and refined company, for a bridge or mahjong gathering that blends history, hospitality and play. If bridge is not your game, bring your mahjong set/s and enjoy a lively social gathering, a natural fit for the Conservatory at The Elms.
Slow down and savor Newport the way summer residents once did with a personal, architecture-rich experience and a leisurely porch luncheon along Bellevue Avenue.
Your experience begins with personal guided tours of two landmark houses: the Gothic Revival gem Kingscote and the groundbreaking Shingle-Style masterpiece Isaac Bell House. Along the way, your guide shares architectural highlights, design innovations and the social history behind these influential homes.
The experience concludes with a relaxed luncheon on the Isaac Bell House porch, a perfect setting for the time-honored tradition of porch sitting, taking the air, sharing conversation and watching the world go by. Once a central ritual of 19th-century summer life, porch sitting blended hospitality, leisure and community, and remains one of Newport’s most charming traditions.
Unhurried, intimate and distinctly Newport.
Embrace the past with your own Victorian Garden Fête at Chateau-sur-Mer, a lively, elegant outdoor party inspired by Newport’s Gilded Age entertaining traditions.
Your experience begins with a brief personal welcome tour when guests arrive, offering highlights and stories of the house and grounds before the celebration moves outdoors. From there, enjoy private lawn access for a three-hour fête filled with charm, color and classic garden amusements. Relax on the historic veranda or in a shaded grove as guests mingle, enjoy period-inspired touches and play traditional lawn games.
Sip refreshing beverages, savor light garden-party fare and try your hand at croquet and other timeless amusements. Playful, picturesque and wonderfully memorable, this is old-fashioned outdoor fun with Victorian flair.
Enter the relaxed, yet still grand, side of the Gilded Age with a private Carriage House grilling-style supper for up to 20 guests at the historic The Breakers Stable. This distinctive evening blends comfort food, beer and immersive history inside one of Newport’s most atmospheric estate support buildings.
Your gathering takes place among the stable’s remarkable collection of preserved coaches and carriages, elegant turn-of-the-century vehicles that once carried the Vanderbilt family and guests through Newport’s golden era. Surrounded by polished woodwork, iron fittings and beautifully restored rolling stock, guests dine in a setting that feels both warmly rustic and museum-worthy.
The evening opens with a staff member providing a brief history of how the stable functioned as the estate’s true “engine room.” The experience then shifts into relaxed hospitality with a catered menu “hot off the grill” paired with beer and seasonal refreshments, encouraging conversation and lingering enjoyment.
It is an evening of casual elegance with historic character.
Experience your own version of the world of HBO’s “The Gilded Age” with an exclusive after-hours dinner for 10 in the historic service areas of The Elms, including the atmospheric below-stairs kitchen and work spaces that have appeared in many pivotal staff scenes across the series’ first three seasons, where the drama, hierarchy and daily rhythms of Gilded Age household life unfold.
Your evening begins with a private Servant Life Tour, revealing the hidden infrastructure that powered this great house, from workrooms and passageways to household hierarchy and daily operations. Led by an expert guide, this immersive introduction brings the world below stairs vividly to life.
After the tour, guests gather for dinner served in the historic kitchen area, seated at a communal table inspired by period staff dining. Warm, generous and authentic in spirit, the experience captures the camaraderie and rhythm of below-stairs life, in a space exclusively available to your guests for this dining experience.
Blending social history, television lore and unforgettable hospitality, this is a one-of-a-kind evening your guests will never forget.
Host your own after-hours private salon, a small, elegant, conversation-centered gathering where guests mingle, sip and engage with ideas, art and culture, high above the grand halls of The Breakers in the mansion’s storied family spaces on the third floor. Designed in the spirit of Gilded Age social salons, this exclusive experience for up to 10 guests blends refined hospitality with lively historical discovery. Originating in the 17th- and 18th-century homes of Europe, these gatherings were curated by a salonnière (hostess) who moderated discussions, blending social pleasure with artistic debate.
Guests will circulate while enjoying bite-sized hors d’oeuvres in a standing reception format as a member of the curatorial staff shares short, engaging “hidden stories” throughout the event, highlighting new research, conservation insights and behind-the-scenes details about how the house functioned above the grand public rooms.
This experience is equal parts reception and intellectual adventure and is an intimate, exclusive opportunity to explore and entertain in one of Newport’s most iconic mansions.
Perfect for history lovers, preservation supporters or milestone celebrations, a truly distinctive way to toast the Gilded Age.
Bring home the stories of Newport’s great houses and pastimes, one carefully chosen volume at a time. This Newport Mansions Book of the Month experience delivers a full year of surprise reads, selected by our Museum Store staff and inspired by history, design, personalities and preservation of the Gilded Age. Expect high-quality, beautifully produced, large-format coffee-table–style books with rich photography, scholarly insight and elegant design. These are books meant to be displayed, revisited and treasured.
Perfect for history lovers, design enthusiasts and armchair travelers, each monthly selection reflects what our guests are most excited about, including staff favorites, exhibition-related titles and the current best-selling book across our Newport Mansions Stores. Each package arrives by mail, beautifully prepared and ready to enjoy or gift, a yearlong journey through architecture, culture and Newport stories.
Take your place at the table and in society with an unforgettable Gilded Age-inspired experience at Marble House. This exclusive package invites you and nine guests to enjoy a personal guided tour followed by an elegant terrace lunch overlooking the Atlantic, in the very setting where Alva Vanderbilt entertained, strategized and advanced her bold social and political ambitions.
Begin with a personal tour of Marble House, where your group will explore the architectural splendor, social drama and behind-the-scenes stories of one of Newport’s most legendary homes. You will discover how Alva used spectacle, hospitality and setting to establish her place at the top of society, much like the ambitious heroines of today’s period drama, “The Gilded Age.”
After the tour, step onto the covered terrace for a relaxed private lunch with sweeping ocean views. From your table, gaze toward the iconic Chinese Tea House, where Alva gathered with fellow suffrage leaders and helped shape strategy for the movement. It is history, hospitality and a dash of suffrage-era swagger.
Whether you are celebrating a milestone or claiming your own moment to preside in grand style, this is more than lunch: It is your chance to host like a legend.
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