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
View our FAQs, map & parking, guidelines and more.
Tours, Groups, Exclusive Experiences
Explore our various tour types to find what’s best for you and your group.
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
Current members can see a full list of benefits and any information regarding Members Events.
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
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.
A Chef Collaboration hosted by four-time James Beard Award winner Andrew Zimmern
We are excited to welcome Andrew Zimmern, an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and social justice advocate, as the host for our 2023 Vintner Dinner! This evening will be chef-driven and will include a unique collaboration of ideas and experiences from several celebrated and award-winning chefs.
The multi-course dinner will begin with a first course by our host Andrew Zimmern, known for his culinary innovations and adventurous palate. Chef Kevin Des Chenes, Private Chef to the Stars, Executive Chef and a familiar face from The Today Show, Beat Bobby Flay and The Great Food Truck Race, will bring his expertise and creativity to the table. Chef/Author Tatiana Rosana, Executive Chef at Para Maria, Lookout Rooftop and Envoy Boston, and two-time Chopped Champion, will feature her amazing fusion of flavors. Chef Jessica Quiet, the Executive Pastry Chef at the Ocean House in Westerly, R.I., and a competitor in Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship 2023 on Discovery Plus, will bring the culinary experience to a sweet and indulgent conclusion with her dessert creation.
With the combination of delicious food, wines paired for each course and an elegant setting in the Ballroom at Rosecliff, the evening has all the elements to create a memorable and immersive experience for all.
Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time.
For the first time in the 129-year history of The Breakers, the private third-floor family space occupied by generations of Vanderbilts is open for public tours.
Wild Imagination will explore the changing place of animals in the Gilded Age, a period that transformed how we view and treat the animal world, through more than 100 animal-themed artworks in a range of media. Closed Nov. 22-Dec. 8
Celebrate with us the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" with this live performance. Gershwin's work is an important part of Newport’s musical history.
SOLD OUT
A great Newport tradition! See the great 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.
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 The Breakers interior tour during the same visit.
Members attending Sparkling Lights on this evening will be able to take advantage of special giveaways and activities!
Learn how the magic of holiday decorating comes together at Newport's largest and most popular mansion. Tours also offered on December 12 & 19.
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. The Elms is closed Oct. 1-Dec. 6.
Want something new for your front door this holiday season? The Preservation Society's Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop returns with plenty of unique ideas.
This program will guide you through designing a holiday floral arrangement that goes beyond poinsettias!
This elegant gala is set in Newport's grandest mansion dressed in its holiday finest.
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 to network and discuss the future of our history.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, guests and volunteers for another successful Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival. See you next year for the 20th annual festival, September 19-21, 2025, at Rosecliff. Become a Preservation Society member and receive early access to purchase 2025 tickets before they become available to the general public.
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