The Breakers and The Elms Are Open
No reservations required
COVID-19 UPDATE:
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.
#NewportMansionsStrong
A Preservation Society membership offers exceptional value and benefits all year-round. Enjoy unlimited admission; discounts in the Newport Mansions Stores; free or discounted admission for lectures, special events and children's activities; subscriptions to the Preservation Society's Newport Gazette, Annual Report and monthly e-newsletter, and more.
Please remember: When you purchase admission, you agree to the following measures
Upcoming Programs, Events and Cancellations
Our next online lecture, hosted by Preservation Society's 2019-20 Research Fellow Mathilde Tollet, is set for July 2 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom video conference. To register, send an email, including your full name and the title "Mathilde Tollet lecture," to ProgramRSVP@newportmansions.org and you will receive information on how to connect.
The Newport Symposium is postponed until 2021. The 25th Newport Flower Show has been rescheduled to June 18-20, 2021.
For information about regular programs visit our events calendar.
Cancellation updates as of June 3:
Green Animals Children's Party
(Tuesday, July 14)
Please check back regularly for schedule changes and updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do I need to know about visiting during the pandemic?
A: No reservations are necessary.
You may purchase tickets when you arrive. You will begin your tour in the order in which you are admitted to the grounds. Face coverings are required and you must observe any health precautions required by public health authorities including but not limited to health screening and social distancing. You will follow a tour route described in the mobile app or on the “use once” paper script you may pick up at the entrance. For maximum enjoyment BRING YOUR EAR BUDS for your mobile device. You will dispose of all paper scripts in special containers at the end of the tour. Regrettably during the reopening period the houses are not accessible for mobility-challenged guests. Only service animals are allowed on the properties. Strollers are not allowed.
Q: Do you give guided tours?
A: Highly engaging audio tours are available to download on your personal smart device before you arrive. Languages include French, Spanish, German, Chinese, and both an adult and family tour in English. Additional house information, floor plans, historic photos and other information is also available on the app. Printed house narratives are also available for pickup at the front door. The Servant Life Tour at The Elms is guided.
Q: Are the houses safe?
A: The Preservation Society employs all of the protective measures recommended by state and federal health agencies and screens staff daily and visitors upon admission for general health. Regular cleaning and sanitizing is underway continuously. The Preservation Society provides hand sanitizer in multiple locations in each house museum and facilitates appropriate social distancing. As with all museums, we encourage visitors not to touch surfaces except handrails and doorknobs as necessary. Visitors are reminded to wash hands frequently and employ best hygiene and social distancing practices. Restrooms are monitored and cleaned continuously.
Each person is responsible for taking appropriate steps to protect your own health and the health of others. If you think you are at special risk due to age or underlying medical condition, you should assess the wisdom of mixing with the general public. If you feel unwell during your visit, please step outside by the nearest exit and ask for help.
Q: Do I need advance reservations to take the tour?
A: No. You are welcome to arrive and purchase your tickets.
Q: How does a member make a reservation?
A: No reservations are required. Arrive and present your membership card.
Q: If I purchase a multi-house ticket, do I have to see everything in one day?
A: No, our tickets never expire. You may use them in any order you wish. The tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Q: Is there still free admission for Newport and Newport County residents?
A: Owing to the Governor’s requirement for limited admissions we must temporarily suspend our resident free admission programs during the pandemic recovery period.
Q: Are the houses accessible?
A: We regret that during the coronavirus reopening period the houses are not mobility-accessible. Due to the confined space in the existing elevators minimal social distancing is not possible and the elevators cannot be user-operated. Virtual tours of the houses are available online.
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: It takes the average visitor 45 minutes to follow the tour route in each house. 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 if open, visit the Newport Mansions Stores. The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House and Rosecliff are all self-guided audio tours presented on our mobile app played on your personal smart device. Bring your earbuds for best enjoyment. These allow you to experience each house at your own pace. If visitors prefer, there are printed “use once” house tours available for free pickup at the front door.
Q: When are the houses open?
A: The Breakers and Elms are open 7 days a week. The Elms is open 9-5 with the last tour admission at 4. The Breakers is open 10-6 with the last tour admission at 5. The Elms also offers a separate “Servant Life Tour” daily at 9:30, 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30. More tours may be added as required. See the 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: 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 on Route 67, 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 the 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: 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 cannot 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. This will be strictly enforced during the COVID-19 recovery period. 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: During the coronavirus pandemic reopening period 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 accessible?
A: Unfortunately The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms and Rosecliff are not wheelchair accessible during the COVID-19 reopening period due to safety restrictions on elevator use. We deeply regret this circumstance and will make every effort to bring elevators back online when they can be safely operated. Virtual tours are available on our website.
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?
A: 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 are not permitted at any time. Unless covered up, admission may be denied if clothing is deemed by staff to be inappropriate.
Q: Are tours available in languages other than English?
A: International visitors are always welcome. On our mobile app, 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 purchasing a ticket, you agree to the following:
1) Visitors must follow direction of Preservation Society staff including but not limited to coronavirus safety procedures.
2) Security systems are 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) For your safety please refrain from touching objects in the houses.
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; they 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 websites. Additional information about places to stay and other activities is available from the Newport Visitors Bureau, www.discovernewport.org.