Operating Schedule
See which of the mansions are open and when. Search by date or month, or view the full year’s schedule.
Visitor Info
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Tours, Groups, Exclusive Experiences
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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.
Current Members
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Become a Member
We invite you to become a member of the Preservation Society today. In addition to joining an active community of preservation supporters and advocates, members are offered unlimited access to all open houses.
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
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Commercial Filming or Photography
Museum Rentals & Weddings
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This award-winning and record-breaking exhibition uses beautiful works of art made from simple toys to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems, and mankind’s relationship with nature.
Just as LEGO® pieces interconnect, everything in nature is also connected in a delicate balance. This artful exhibition illustrates that balance in the beautiful, inspirational setting of Green Animals Topiary Garden.
Using the beloved toy bricks as a medium, the larger-than-life creations in Nature Connects present a playful spin on traditional sculptural art, making it accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Marvel at artist Sean Kenney’s gravity-defying and astoundingly precise structures and become inspired to explore their world in new ways. From the proud majesty of an antlered buck to the ponderous mass of a Galapagos tortoise; from the delicate suspension of a hummingbird on the edge of a flower to the spectacular feather display of a peacock, Sean’s art sparks a joyful sense of wonder at the natural world.
In addition to the 14 sculptures exhibited at Green Animals, Sean Kenney’s Bonsai Tree is displayed inside the Welcome Center at The Breakers.
At times whimsical, gripping and awe-inspiring, this exhibition will inspire budding artists, ecologists and builders to dream big!
David & Carol Bazarsky
Edwin S. Webster Foundation
The Thomas A. Rodgers, Jr. Family Foundation
Lisa & Paul Perrault
T.J. Brown Landscape Contractors
Dr. Brian Melzian
Shamrock Electric
Charter Books
Sean Kenney is a renowned, award-winning artist who has been creating art wth LEGO bricks for over 15 years.
His multiple-award-winning traveling exhibitions have been touring globally since 2012, he has authored 9 acclaimed children’s books, and guest-judged the hit TV show LEGO MASTERS.
Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time.
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. *Sept. 1-Oct. 6, 10:30 & 3:30. Nov. 23-Jan. 1, 2025, 10:30 & 2:30.
For the first time in the 129-year history of The Breakers, the private third-floor family space occupied by generations of Vanderbilts will be open for public tours. *TIme changes to 1:30 pm Oct. 15-Jan. 1
Marvel at the sight of 26 life-sized elephant sculptures on the oceanside back lawn of The Breakers and learn about the importance of helping these magnificent animals survive.
This summer’s Traveling Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Garden provide families and children a fun and creative way to connect with The Preservation Society of Newport County’s multiple properties by engaging with cultural heritage and nature.
The annual Jacalyn and William P. Egan Lecture will present Preservation Society Fellow Benjamin Bowery and Curatorial Research Assistant Eve Loftus discussing their recent discoveries about interior décor in the mansions.
Kids can learn what life was like for colonial kids and try their hand at making 1700s-style toys. Recommended for ages 5 to 7. Family-Level members, go to "Member Login" for free registration.
Create homes for the fantastic creatures in this magical garden. Recommended for ages 5 to 7.Family-Level members, go to "Member Login" for free registration.
The annual Eaddo and Peter Kiernan Lecture will present two of the Preservation Society's Research Fellows discussing results of their work for the past year: Dani Zhang on our collection of Chinese artwork and objects, many produced for the Gilded Age Western market; and Isla Stewart on fine and decorative objects that illustrate Americans’ changing relationship with animals during the Gilded Age.
Learn about travel modes of the past and design your own way to go. Recommended for ages 5 to 7.Family-Level members, go to "Member Login" for free registration.
For the annual John G. Winslow Lecture, Dr. Philip Rylands of The Society of the Four Arts will tell the incredible life story of Peggy Guggenheim and explore her remarkable collection of Cubist, Surrealist and Abstract art.
Children will read a story, search for butterflies and create their own wings to wear. Recommended for ages 5 to 7. Family-Level members, go to "Member Login" for free registration.
Our annual black-tie fundraising event promises a fun and elegant evening of dinner and dancing amid a magical garden setting.
Go on a collecting adventure and make a treasure chest to store your collection. Recommended for ages 5 to 7.Family-Level members, go to "Member Login" for free registration.
Get ready for an hour of movement and dance with an instructor from Newport Contemporary Ballet. Recommended for ages 5 to 7.Family-Level members, go to "Member Login" for free registration.
On the 50th anniversary of the opening of Monumenta in Newport, we will celebrate this pioneering modern sculpture exhibition that shaped the way the world now interacts with outdoor contemporary art.
Enjoy fun activities centered around the mansion's cool Sod Maze. Recommended for ages 5 to 7.Family-Level members, go to "Member Login" for free registration.
Learn about the different types of pollinators, what they do and how we can help. Recommended for ages 5 to 7.Family-Level members, go to "Member Login" for free registration.
Fans of HBO’s "The Gilded Age" will love this guide-led tour of locations in four of the Newport Mansions where the show was filmed. Tuesdays and Fridays only, September 3 through 27.
Save the dates for the 19th annual festival, featuring the Vintner Dinner, Sunday Brunch and tasty yet educational seminar experiences. Plus, special guest appearance by Jacques and Claudine Pepin!
Step back into the Gilded Age and indulge in an exquisite five-course dinner with wine pairings in the Louis XV-style Ballroom at The Elms.
Join Cakebread Cellars for an exquisite wine tasting from one of the world's top Cabernet Sauvignon production locations.
Discover some exciting Pinot Noirs from around the world!
Sharpen your mixology skills while tasting delicious cocktails from the Remy Cointreau portfolio.
Experience an in-depth tasting of Knights Bridge wines that represent the character and personality of the Knights Valley Estate
Discover the history and different styles of Ports, White, Ruby, Tawny and Vintage from the acclaimed Houses of Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca & Croft.
A fun and exciting tasting seminar that combines the cuisine of a James Beard Award Semifinalist chef with craft Japanese sake.
Join us for a masterclass and tasting of Sonoma County wines and Kentucky whiskeys finished in French oak wine casks.
Taste a variety of Sparkling, White, Sagrantino and Shiraz wines along with a Boar’s Head Pairing Plate.
Taste organic wines while diving into the concept of regenerative organic certification, biodynamics and how climate change is shifting the wine landscape.
With Claudine Pépin and Rollie Wesen of the Jacques Pépin Foundation as our co-hosts, savor a four-course dinner prepared by four talented chefs and paired with world-class wines.
Enjoy a mini charcuterie tasting plate and wines from France and Italy while learning how to create the perfect charcuterie board
Learn about and taste exemplary French dishes with paired wines and a sprinkling of history and culture. Presented by Rollie Wesen and Claudine Pépin of the Jacques Pépin Foundation.
Explore the magical characteristics of the Rioja Alta region of Spain through a selection of its world-renowned wines.
Take a tantalizing trip around the world of beer at this fun and educational seminar.
Experience a sophisticated yet approachable expression of the centuries-old tradition of mezcal.
Learn culinary secrets from two award-winning chefs and taste their creations with wines selected by our Festival Wine Director.
A lavish buffet brunch, selected wines and spirits, and jazz on the piano in the stunning Rosecliff Ballroom – the perfect way to start your festival Sunday.
This tasting will explore some of Italy's finest wines, including the powerful and opulent Amarone Riserva.
Learn and experience why the pairing of sparkling wines and caviar is a connoisseur's favorite.
Chef, author, television personality and educator Jacques Pépin shares stories of his remarkable life while guests enjoy French wines and an elegant tasting plate.
Partners in Preservation