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.
Group Tour Information
Bring your adult or student group to tour the Newport Mansions at a discounted rate.
Group Visit Request Form
Please complete the request form and submit. Completing this form serves as a group visit request and is not a confirmed reservation.
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.
Exhibition was open September 1, 2023 – February 11, 2024
Since Newport’s beginnings as a colonial seaport, generations of its citizens have looked to China for knowledge, beauty, fortune and freedom. In turn, many different people of Chinese heritage, including artists, merchants, immigrant entrepreneurs and women suffragists, shaped all aspects of life in Newport. Their stories are at the heart of this exhibition.
The Celestial City explores China’s deep influence on Newport from the 18th century through the Gilded Age (1865-1915), when the city emerged as America’s premier summer playground and the fall of China’s last imperial dynasty transformed the ancient nation.
The extraordinary objects on display include more than 100 works from the Preservation Society’s collection and other institutions in a range of media, from paintings, sculptures, prints and photographs to fashion, ceramics, lacquerwares and lanterns.
Highlights include treasures of Chinese art collected by Newport merchants and industrialists; photographs and stories from Newport’s early Chinese community; and the writings, portraits and family heirlooms of heroic Chinese women suffragists. Contemporary artworks by Yu-Wen Wu and Jennifer Ling Datchuk illuminate Chinese contributions to Newport as well as hidden connections between the Newport mansions and the Chinese-American experience.
Portrait of Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, Chinese Suffragist, in Barnard College Yearbook, Class of 1916 Purchase of The Preservation Society of Newport County
Portrait of Grace Yip Typond, Chinese Suffragist Unidentified photographer, New York, c. 1910 Collection of Douglas J. Chu
Detail of Standing Screen Li Ailian, 19th century Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth M. Smith
Postcard with Chop Suey Restaurant (Bun Jun Low or Moy Fou Restaurant), 195 Thames Street Tichnor Bros., Inc., Boston, c. 1913 Collection of Daniel P. Titus
Vase Unidentified maker (Chinese), 18th century Gift of the Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Berwind II
The Chinese Teahouse at Marble House, Newport Richard Howland Hunt and Joseph Howland Hunt (architects), 1912-1914 Photograph Andrea Hansen
“N.A.W.S.A. Catching Up With China” Suffrage Banner 1912 The Huntington Library, Susan B. Anthony Collection
Plate Belonging to Godfrey Malbone (1695-1768) Unidentified maker (Chinese), c. 1760 Gift of Mrs. Philip G. Birckhead
Cigar Box Inscribed "W" for William Shepard Wetmore Unidentified maker (Chinese), c. 1835 Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Morris Smith
Portrait of Wu Bingjian Guan Qiaochang (also known as Lamqua), c. 1840 Gift of the Estate of Mrs. Gwendolen E. Rives
Postcard with Lee Yun Laundry at 329 Thames Street, in Business from 1890-1942 The Metropolitan News Co., Boston, c. 1900 Collection of Daniel P. Titus
Detail of Informal Dragon Robe Unidentified maker (Chinese), late 19th century Gift of Mr. Edward Lee Cave
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.
The Preservation Society of Newport County is getting into the Spirit of 2026 with an insightful exhibition, theatrical performances bringing Newport’s Revolutionary history to life, programs for children and a series of lectures by leading voices in the field of American history and arts.
To mark the U.S. Semiquincentennial, "Revolution Reimagined: Evolving Stories from Newport’s Past" explores Newport’s vital role in the American Revolution through the lens of myth and memory. Exhibition is included with admission to Rosecliff.
Learn about our latest exhibition, “Revolution Reimagined: Evolving Stories from Newport’s Past,” with a guided tour led by one of the primary collaborators on the exhibition. Offered on select dates.
Mark your calendar for these fun, artistic and educational events this fall at the Newport Mansions!
Evan Aten, Horticulturist Supervisor at Green Animals Topiary Garden, will bring you for a fall walk through the gardens and teach you how to prep your garden beds for winter.
In an exclusive for our members, Director of Museum Affairs & Chief Curator Leslie Jones and Chief Conservator Patty Miller will give a wide-ranging update on the state of the Preservation Society collections.
Join Preservation Society Archives Fellow Grace Acton to learn about Chepstow’s ties to America’s founding families. Thursday, October 8 & 15 only.
Get into the spirit of the season with a history-based lecture presented by critically acclaimed history podcaster ("Lore") and bestselling author Aaron Mahnke.
Witches and vampires, angels and princesses, skeletons and superheroes, get ready! There’s big Halloween fun for the family at Newport’s biggest mansion.
This November, the Newport Symposium offers a series of lectures and tours examining the origins and legacy of art, architecture, landscape and design in the United States. Registration is now open.
Jeff Curtis, Director of Gardens & Landscapes, will provide a tour of the greenhouse and discuss how the work done there provides thousands of bedding plants and cut flowers for our historic properties.
SOLD OUT
A Newport Songbook brings Newport’s musical heritage to life through 19th century performances, local composers, and songs connected to the city’s theaters, salons, and celebrated residents.
This outdoor spectacle of holiday lights will dazzle and delight you! The 13-acre landscape of The Breakers turns into a wonderland of color and light. Includes tour of the lavishly decorated rooms inside the house. Open on select evenings through the season. Includes access to The Breakers interior during the same visit. *Timed admissions every half-hour from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. House and ground will close at 8:00 pm.* Tickets on sale now!
A great Newport tradition! See the magnificent mansions of the Gilded Age dressed in their festive holiday finery. It’s the most spectacular time of the year at these awe-inspiring historic houses.
Looking for something new to put on your door this holiday season? The Preservation Society's Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop returns with plenty of unique ideas.
Learn how the magic of holiday decorating comes together at Newport's largest and most popular mansion. Tour will be offered on Thursdays, December 10 and December 17.
All Preservation Society members are invited to enjoy an evening of live music, food and good company! Tickets Available Now!
This exclusive one-night-only event at The Breakers features Skylark’s acclaimed musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, narrated by Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actress Christine Baranski.Member Tickets on Sale: October 20, 2026 Public Tickets on Sale: October 22, 2026
Join us for an elegant celebration filled with festive cheer, fine dining, and dancing in one of Newport’s most iconic settings. Member Tickets on sale October 7, 2026 Public Ticket Sales open October 13, 2026
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
Morph Hospitality
Author, “Flavors of my World” & “Chaat” Two-time “Tournament of Champions” winner, “Chopped” judge, Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl”
CKD Productions & Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival Culinary Director
Author, “Beyond My Chef Coat” Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Great Food Truck Race,” “Today” Show, NBC “Celebrity Cooking Showdown” winner
Sparrow Restaurant, New Milford, Connecticut
Four time “Chopped” champion, Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions,” “Guy’s Grocery Games”
Sift Bake Shop, Mix, ATY Bar & Bonbons
Author, “Sift Cookbook” Best Baker in America, Food Network; Best Pastry Chef in Connecticut, Connecticut Restaurant Association; Food Network’s “Chopped Sweets” judge
