Welcome to
The Breakers
Newport
Hailed as the grandest estate in America, The Breakers was the summer home of one of the wealthiest and most fascinating families in the nation’s history: the Vanderbilts.
Meet the Characters
Alice Vanderbilt
Matriarch of the wealthiest family in the world
Alfred Vanderbilt
Devastating loss and unfulfilled duty made him the unexpected scion of the family.
Reggie Vanderbilt
Charming but damaged. His affinity for drink and gambling led to a tragic end.
Gertrude Vanderbilt
Passionate about art, she was the family outsider with a secret: a forbidden romance.
Esther Hunt
A hopeless romantic who yearned for Gertrude, but Alice and society pulled them apart.
Following the death of her husband Cornelius II, matriarch Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt spent her days at The Breakers as a pillar of society and working to protect her family’s legacy. Her biggest challenge? Her own children. Their wanton lifestyles and often imprudent behavior threatened the family fortune and reputation. A titan of Newport society, Alice pushed them to adhere to tradition and uphold the Vanderbilts’ towering status.
Inside The Breakers
Styled after a 16th century Italian Renaissance palace, built for entertaining – and for sparking envy.
No expense was spared building and decorating the Great Hall. This massive room of Caen stone and rare marble is reminiscent of the open-air courtyards of Italian palaces.
The scene of many lavish balls including the “coming out” party in 1895 for the young and beautiful Miss Gertrude Vanderbilt.
Live the Drama
The Breakers is home to some of the most fascinating stories that shaped the Gilded Age.
