The grand facade
Rosecliff
Rosecliff was built for Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs, who used it to host many fabulous Gilded Age entertainments. Architect Stanford White modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles.
Things to Do
Rosecliff Audio Tour
Daily
opening hours
As you explore this elegant Gilded Age mansion, you’ll hear stories about its owner, Tessie Oelrichs, who was so eager to throw her first party at Rosecliff that she did not wait until the house was finished! You’ll learn how Rosecliff was perfectly designed for entertaining – and how the famous Ballroom, the largest in Newport, was once used as a roller skating rink.
History
With its celebrated heart-shaped grand staircase and the largest ballroom in Newport, this elegant mansion overlooking the Atlantic Ocean recalls lost Gilded Age summers filled with extravagant parties like the one featured in 1974’s The Great Gatsby, which filmed scenes at Rosecliff.
Learn more about Rosecliff
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Original Builder
Theresa Fair Oelrichs
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Construction Dates
1899-1902
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Ownership transferred to the Preservation Society
1971
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