Closures, Cancellations and Postponements
COVID-19 UPDATE: March 27, 2020
- The Newport Mansions will remain closed to the public. The
Preservation Society of Newport County continues to monitor all CDC and
public health advisories and will comply with all state and local
guidance about public gatherings. You are urged to maintain appropriate
social distance for your own protection and to protect the lives of your
family and others. Our social media and YouTube channel will continue
to provide daily offerings from our collections and videos. For more
visit our Newport Mansions Instagram page and Facebook pages of the
Preservation Society of Newport County. #NewportMansionsStrong
The
Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch at Rosecliff on April 11 are canceled. The
exhibition “Becoming Vanderbilt” is postponed until further notice. The
opening reception will be rescheduled for a later date. The Newport
Symposium is postponed until 2021. Registered individuals will be
contacted directly.
The Mansions will remain closed until at least May 15. Opening Date TBD. For information about regular programs visit our events calendar.
Cancellation updates as of March 24:
Urban Forests: A Natural History of Trees and People in the American Cityscape
(Thursday, April 23)
Dutch Bulbs With Dan
(Saturday, April 26)
Marjorie Merriweather Post: The Life Behind The Luxury
(Thursday, May 14)
Spring Travel Tour: RISD Museum
(Thursday, May 28)
Spring Garden Walk With Dan Christina
(Saturday, May 30)
Book Club: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
(Sunday, May 31)
Please check back regularly for schedule changes and updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I get a refund on regular house tickets?
A: Regular house tickets do not have an expiration date. They can be used at any time.
Q: What if I have traveled from some distance and do not expect to return to Newport, or have some other extenuating circumstance?
A: For general refund questions, call (401) 847-1000, ext. 158.
Q: What about tickets for specialty tours, such as Beneath The Breakers and The Elms Servant Life Tour, that were purchased in advance for a specific date?
A: We are offering refunds for specialty tour tickets. Please call (401) 847-1000, ext. 158.
Q: Do you plan to extend memberships to cover this closure period?
A: Yes. At this time, specifics are yet to be determined.
Q: What if I have tickets for lectures or the opening reception of “Becoming Vanderbilt”?
A: Tickets for the March 19 lecture and March 29 “Becoming Vanderbilt” opening reception are being refunded. Please email Elizabeth Marchi at emarchi@newportmansions.org with any questions.
Q: What if I have registered for the Symposium?
A: Symposium registrants are being contacted individually. Please email Elizabeth Marchi at emarchi@newportmansions.org with any questions.
Q: What about other public and private events, such as the Flower Show, weddings or the Easter Egg Hunt?
A: Emails have been sent to all registrants for the Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch and those tickets are being refunded. Please direct questions about other events to Beverly Ware at events@newportmansions.org.
Common Questions
Q: Can I take pictures in the mansions?
A: Yes! We understand that no vacation is complete without photos, a way to remember your trip and to share it with family and friends, especially on social media. The Preservation Society now permits interior photography during tours in all of its houses except Hunter House, for personal, non-commercial use only. Selfie sticks, flash and tripods are not permitted. Read the detailed photography policy.
Q: How long does it take to tour each house?
A: We generally advise allowing between one and one-and-a-half hours for each property, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the tour, explore the grounds, and visit the Newport Mansions Stores. The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House and Rosecliff are all self-guided audio tours, using a lightweight, state-of-the-art and easy-to-use handheld player. These allow you to experience each house at your own pace. (During winter season from January thru March, either guided tours or audio tours may be available at these houses). All other houses are guided tours, except the Brayton House at Green Animals Topiary Garden, which is a self-guided tour.
Q: When are the houses open?
A: The operating schedule for each house varies seasonally. Please check our operating schedule for details.
Q: Is parking available?
A: Free off-street parking is available at all Preservation Society properties with the exception of Hunter House, where parking is generally available on the street or for a fee at the nearby Newport Visitors Center.
Q: Is there transportation between the houses?
A: Most of the houses are within walking distance of one another in the Bellevue Avenue-Ochre Point neighborhood. Public transportation is provided by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, which operates natural-gas powered trolleys from the Newport Visitors Center at 23 America's Cup Avenue.
Q: What are the addresses of the mansions?
A: Except for Green Animals Topiary Garden (located in Portsmouth) and Hunter House (downtown), most of the Newport Mansions are located within a short distance of one another on or near Bellevue Avenue in Newport. Here are their addresses:
The Breakers
44 Ochre Point Avenue
Newport
Chateau-sur-Mer
474 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
Chepstow
120 Narragansett Avenue
Newport
The Elms
367 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
Green Animals Topiary Garden
380 Cory's Lane
Portsmouth
Hunter House
54 Washington Street
Newport
Isaac Bell House
70 Perry Street
Newport
Kingscote
253 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
Marble House
596 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
Rosecliff
548 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
For directions to Green Animals and to Bellevue Avenue, click here.
Q: Do I need advance reservations to take a tour?
A: Advance reservations are neither required nor accepted for most tours of the mansions. The only exceptions are The Breakers Interpretive Tour, the Servant Life Tour at The Elms and the Beneath The Breakers Tour.
Because of space limitations, reservations are required for both of these guided tours. Space availability on a specific date and time cannot be guaranteed without an advance reservation. You can purchase your date and time specific tickets online, or you may visit any Newport Mansions ticket booth to make a reservation in person as early in the day as possible on the day you would like to take your tour.
Q: Do I have to purchase my tickets in advance?
A: Tickets are available for advance purchase online, but it is not necessary to purchase tickets for regular house tours in advance. Tickets can be purchased on site at any of the houses. However, see the question above about reservations for the Servant Life Tour and Beneath The Breakers Tour.
Q: If I purchase a multi-house ticket, do I have to see them all in one day?
A: No. Our tickets are undated, and tours do not all have to take place on the same day. If you purchase a multi-house ticket, you may see those houses in whatever order you like, and spread your visits out over as many days as you like. Please check the operating schedule to see which houses are open during your visit.
Q: Are strollers allowed in the mansions?
A: We encourage the use of baby slings or baby backpacks as an alternative to strollers. While young children are always welcome at the Newport Mansions, we regret that we cannot allow strollers or carriages inside any of the properties. This policy has been adopted because of the significant damage that such vehicles have caused to historic surfaces and furnishings. Please leave strollers and carriages in your car prior to entering the property. These vehicles can not be left unattended on the property during your tour. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Q: Can I bring my dog with me to tour the mansions?
A: Only certified service animals are permitted on any of the Preservation Society properties. No other pets are permitted in the houses or on the grounds. We also request that pets not be left in your vehicle while you take your tour, as temperatures inside a locked car will quickly become unsafe and even deadly.
Q: Can I check my bag or suitcase while I tour the mansions?
A: Due to space limitations in our historic properties, there are no lockers or storage facilities at any of the Newport Mansions. Personal items may not be left at the front desk. Visitors are welcome to carry personal items, such as purses, camera bags and knapsacks with them during their tour. But suitcases, carry-on luggage, duffel bags, or oversized bags of any kind that could cause potential damage to historic surfaces and furnishings are not permitted. Please leave such items in your car prior to entering the property. Please plan your visit with this in mind.
Q: Are the mansions wheelchair accessible?
A: The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms and Rosecliff are partially wheelchair accessible. For detailed information about access for visitors with special needs, please call (401) 847-1000.
Q: What type of shoes should I wear?
A: Many of the Preservation Society's houses are quite large, requiring a great deal of walking and climbing of stairs. They also include more than 80 acres of gardens and grounds. For your comfort and safety, we recommend that you wear sturdy walking shoes or sneakers. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times on the Preservation Society’s properties.
Q: Does the Newport Mansions have dress code for visitors?
Yes. In keeping with our family-friendly atmosphere, and for health and safety reasons, The Preservation Society of Newport County strictly enforces a dress code. Proper attire must be worn on the properties at all times, including shirts and appropriate footwear. Swimwear and clothing with rude, vulgar or offensive language or graphics is not permitted at any time. Unless covered up, admission may be denied if clothing is deemed by management to be inappropriate.
Q: Are tours available in languages other than English?
A: International visitors are always welcome. Audio tours of The Breakers and The Elms are available in English, French, Spanish, German and Chinese. The audio tour of Marble House is available in English, French, Spanish and German. Printed tour scripts of The Breakers, Marble House and The Elms are available in several other languages. These may be requested as you enter the house.
Q: What else do I need to know about taking tours of the mansions?
A: By accepting a ticket, you agree to the following:
1) Visitors must follow direction of Preservation Society staff.
2) Security system in use, you may be photographed. No personal items may be stored or left unattended at any property.
3) Strollers & carriages are not allowed inside any houses.
4) Please refrain from touching objects in the houses, and in guided tour houses you must remain with tour groups.
5) Interior and exterior photography at most houses are permitted for non-commercial and social media use only. No interior photography is permitted at Hunter House.
6) An authorized photographer or videographer may record your image for Preservation Society purposes.
7) Sale or commercial use of any images taken on or from the grounds of any Preservation Society property is prohibited. Exceptions can only be made by prior written agreement.
8) Tickets may not be resold, are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Q: Can you recommend a place to stay while my family is in Newport?
A: Newport has hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts of every type and price range. You can find a partial listing on our Lodgings page, with links to their individual web sites. Additional information about places to stay and other activities is available from the Newport Visitors Bureau, www.discovernewport.org.