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
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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.
An exclusive offering for Preservation Society members! Join one of the exhibition’s co-curators (Jim Donahue or Catherine Moran) for a guided tour of our latest exhibition, “Full Circle: Richard Fleischner with David Smith, Christo, Claes Oldenburg, Barnett Newman, & other Monumenta Artists.”
Hear new insights and untold stories while you take a closer look at the works of art in the gallery. Donahue and Moran will highlight Fleischner’s achievements. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions.
Image on Events & Programs webpage: Richard Fleischner, Sod Maze: View with Mound Elevation, cyanotype print. Courtesy of the artist.
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Dr. Catherine Moran, Manager of Academic Partnerships and Research Fellows Program for The Preservation Society of Newport County
Dr. Catherine Moran, PhD, is an art and cultural historian whose research explores the intersection between material culture, architecture and identity as an expression of the human experience. Dr. Moran has more than 10 years of experience as a lecturer of art and design history at the College of Visual and Performing Arts at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and is the former Gallery Director for Bernard and S. Dean Levy, New York. She is engaged with local cultural, historic preservation and arts-based non-profit organizations and has lectured at several local universities, professional conferences and cultural institutions. Her master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation focused on American architect Richard Morris Hunt, and she was excited to work in support of the Preservation Society's 2025 exhibition dedicated to his work.
Jim Donahue, Curator of Historic Landscapes and Horticulture for The Preservation Society of Newport County
Jim Donahue began his career with the Preservation Society in 2004, as chief horticulturist at Green Animals Topiary Garden. Since 2014, Donahue has worked as Curator of Historic Landscapes, overseeing the rehabilitation of The Breakers landscape, among many other projects. In addition to landscape projects, he has been Horticulture Chair of The Newport Flower Show for many years and also is responsible for interior decorations for Holidays at the Newport Mansions and the design and installation of Sparkling Lights at The Breakers. Donahue holds a Master's of Landscape Design & Planning from The Conway School.
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.
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.
Join Allison Donoghue, Decorative Arts Research Fellow, to learn how professionals research and analyze decorative arts. Program offered February 27 & March 12
This is an exclusive opportunity to tour our off-site Collections Care Facility and meet some of our collections care team, including our new Textile Conservator, Katy O'Donnell.
Join us for a captivating lecture with Geoffrey Kelly, the former FBI agent who investigated the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, the largest property theft in U.S. history.
The Newport Mansions are hiring for a variety of part-time and seasonal positions. Our Job Fair is the best place to learn more, introduce yourself and apply in person!
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
Bid for your chance to attend elegant legacy soirées, cloistered gatherings and bespoke escapes on our historic estates. Enjoy privileged access while supporting our efforts to preserve American history.
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
"Pearls of Newport" is the perfect theme for the 30th anniversary Newport Flower Show, celebrating the city's coastal identity and maritime history.
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.
Following 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.
Children and grandchildren alike will love the opportunity to spend time with you, enjoying this gift of discovery, creativity, and Gilded Age 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 history experiences, young participants will explore the past 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 history.
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, an exceptional menu, and elegant hospitality set within the grandeur of the Ballroom at Rosecliff. Guests will enjoy a thoughtfully curated multi-course menu, expertly paired with distinguished wines, all served in one of Newport’s most iconic Gilded Age settings.
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 bites from sponsors and culinary artisans. After brunch, spend some time in the Tasting Tent to (NOT FINISHED????)
From sparkling glasses beneath glittering chandeliers to relaxed daytime indulgence at Festival Brunch, 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 provide 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, the city harbor views, 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 sixteen 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 at the dining table 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 Sumer 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 Bridge hostess, this exclusive experience invites you and your guests to gather for an elegant, small-group Bridge or Mahjong party in one of the houses most beautiful glass-enclosed 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, making it 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. History, design, and lunch with a view of the Avenue.
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 verandah 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, old-fashioned lawn 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 twenty 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 knowledgeable 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 ten in the historic service areas area 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 Servants’ 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.
Following 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 ten 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 knowledgeable 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 entertain and explore 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 the stories of Newport’s great houses and pastimes home, one carefully chosen volume at a time. This Newport Mansions Book of the Month experience delivers a full year of surprise reads, hand-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 now, including staff favorites, exhibition-related titles, and the current best-selling book across our mansion Museum 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.
FAQ
