Marble House
William Vanderbilt built Marble House as a 39th birthday present for his wife Alva Vanderbilt. It was a social and architectural landmark that set the pace for Newport's subsequent transformation from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses to the legendary resort of opulent Gilded Age mansions.
Things to Do
Marble House Family Tour
Saturdays & Sundays
opening hours
From ancient superheroes to a talking house, kids will learn about Marble House and the people that lived and worked here from a unique and fun perspective. Included with regular admission.
Marble House Audio Tour
Saturdays & Sundays
opening hours
Hear Alva Vanderbilt talk about the architectural masterpiece she helped to design, which she described as “like a fourth child to me.” Learn how she used it to cement her place in society, to arrange her daughter’s marriage to British aristocracy, and later as a rallying point for women’s right to vote.
Marble House Virtual Tour
Daily
virtual
Visit Marble House from the comfort of your own home
Learn from Our Docents
Saturdays & Sundays
multiple times daily
Who are the French kings and Greek gods depicted on the walls? Why is the Gothic Room so ... Gothic? Hear all the details of this spectacular house, and stories of the people who lived and worked there, from one of our expert guides.
History
The Gilded Age comes alive at Marble House through engaging audio tours. Hear about how the Duke of Marlborough met his future Duchess, Consuelo Vanderbilt, one of America’s dollar princesses.
Learn more about Marble House
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Original Builder
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt
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Construction Dates
1888-1892
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Architect
Richard Morris Hunt
Upcoming Events
Winter Gilded Age Lecture Series
January 26 – March 2, 2023
6:00pm
Learn about the historical set locations of Julian Fellowes’ “The Gilded Age” on HBO; African American designers and dressmakers who created the garments worn by privileged Newporters; cocktails that were all the rage in the Gilded Age; and the music that brought elegance and beauty to the soundtrack of the period.
African American Designers and Dressmakers
February 9, 2023
6:00pm
Who were the designers and dressmakers who skillfully created garments for privileged Newporters in the past?
Cocktail Culture in the Gilded Age
February 23, 2023
6:00pm
The Gilded Age was also the “Golden Age of Cocktails,” when discriminating palates discovered the delights of new concoctions that became the classic cocktails of today: the Martini, Manhattan, Old-Fashioned and more. Get the story from the author of “Gilded Age Cocktails.”
