Operating Schedule
See which of the mansions are open and when. Search by date or month, or view the full year’s schedule.
Guest Information
View our FAQs, parking information, guidelines and more.
Tours, Groups, Exclusive Experiences
Explore our various tour types to find what’s best for you and your group.
Accessibility
See specific information about access at each house and property.
History of Newport and the Mansions
Founded in 1639, Newport was an important port city, a center of the slave trade, a fashionable resort and the summer home of the Gilded Age rich.
What was the Gilded Age?
The Gilded Age was a period of unprecedented change in America. Fortunes were spent on luxuries such as the lavish "summer cottages" of Newport.
Deep Dive into the Show
Learn about the people, places and events depicted in Julian Fellowes' popular historical drama series.
“Inside the Newport Mansions” Gilded Age Conversations
Noted historians and authors share their insights into all aspects of Gilded Age America in this monthly series of interviews with the Preservation Society.
Become a Member
We invite you to become a member of the Preservation Society today.
Premium Memberships
We invite you to join these exclusive levels of membership for patrons interested in enhanced access and benefits at the Preservation Society.
Current Members
As a member, you can enjoy unlimited general admission to our properties and do not need tickets. Simply bring your membership card for admission.
Membership FAQs
Membership gives you free, unlimited access to regular guided and audio tours at all Newport Mansions properties.
About Us
Our mission is to protect, preserve, and present the best of Newport County's architectural heritage. Learn more about us and our work.
Wind Farm Federal Appeal: FAQs
The Preservation Society of Newport County is appealing federal agency approval of two massive wind farms off the Rhode Island coast.
Personal Photography on the Grounds
Rent our museums for commercial photography & videography, TV production, and wedding photography.
Commercial Filming or Photography
Museum Rentals & Weddings
Host your wedding, rehearsal dinner, corporate event, or other celebration at our historic museums.
On this page
Admission to The Breakers is by timed tickets. This does not affect Preservation Society members, Access Pass holders, NARM members, Newport residents, Museums for All or Library Pass holders. We will continue to honor previously purchased, non-timed tickets for The Breakers, including the Duo and Trio.
Otherwise, if you are planning to visit The Breakers or go on a Specialty Tour, then you must reserve a date and time to visit. You may purchase tickets in person when you arrive, but the number of tickets for each time slot is limited and the time or date you prefer may not be available if you do not purchase in advance.
Admission to Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer, Kingscote, Isaac Bell House and Green Animals Topiary Garden is not for any specific date or time. Tickets can be used any time these mansions are open for tours. Tickets redeemable at these mansions – The Breakers +1, Breakers +2 and One Property – must be used within one year of the purchase date. You may purchase tickets in advance or in person when you arrive.
The Newport Mansions online portal now allows ticket purchasers to change the date and time of their timed tickets. This can only be done for tickets purchased after October 13, 2025.
A link to the portal is provided in the confirmation email sent immediately after your purchase. You will need the Order Number – a nine-digit number starting with 194 that is in the confirmation email – and the email address used for the purchase.
Selection of a new date and time is subject to availability.
The following tickets can be changed using this method: The Breakers The Breakers +1 The Breakers +2 Beneath The Breakers The Breakers Third Floor Preservation in Progress Tour The Elms Servant Life Tour Sparkling Lights at The Breakers
Membership has its benefits! Members and Access Pass holders do not need to reserve a time in advance to visit The Breakers. Consider purchasing a membership so that you can visit whenever you’d like.
Alternatively, we may have other properties open to tour. Please check the operating schedule to see what is open when you are planning to visit.
If you arrive at The Breakers earlier than your timed ticket reservation, you can speak to an Admissions Associate in the Welcome Center to see if there are any earlier time slots available. If there are, they can switch your tickets.
If there are no earlier time slots available, then you may visit the café, walk the grounds or visit The Museum Store while you wait for your timed entry to the mansion. We encourage everyone to arrive at the time for which they reserve their tickets.
You can purchase tickets through our website or in person at The Breakers Welcome Center, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff or Green Animals Topiary Garden. There are Admissions Associates available at those locations to assist you.
Self-service ticket kiosks are available at Chateau-sur-Mer, Kingscote, Isaac Bell House, Hunter House and Chepstow.
Only The Breakers requires a timed ticket, so you may visit the other mansions on different days if you wish.
We will continue to honor previously purchased, non-timed tickets for The Breakers, including the Duo and Trio. You do not need to make a reservation with these tickets.
When you purchase tickets online at NewportMansions.org, you receive a confirmation email that contains a link, “Print Tickets Now.” Click or touch the link to download and display the tickets on your mobile device. Then they can be scanned upon entry to the mansion.
Absolutely! You can apply your general-admission ticket purchase price toward an Access Pass or membership within 7 days of your visit. The number and type of applicable tickets varies with the membership level you purchase. Tickets purchased from third-party vendors are not applicable; other restrictions may apply. Visit a sales station at The Breakers Welcome Center, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff or Green Animals Topiary Garden to upgrade your tickets to an Access Pass or membership.
All guests to any Newport Mansions property are required to have a valid ticket or membership for entry onto the grounds, Newport Mansions Stores or Museum Cafes. If you do not have a ticket or membership, you’re welcome to visit our Newport Mansions Store located at Bannister’s Wharf in downtown Newport.
All guide-led tours are offered in English only.
On the Newport Mansions mobile app, audio tours of The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House are available in English, French, German, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Audio tours of Rosecliff, Kingscote and Chateau-sur-Mer are in English only. The Breakers and Marble House also offer children’s tours in English.
We offer printed self-guided tours at The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer, Kingscote, Isaac Bell House and Rosecliff in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Hebrew, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Korean and Japanese.
The Breakers, Marble House and Rosecliff are partially accessible for mobility devices. At these three museums, the first floor can be directly accessed by guests who use a wheelchair; the second floor is accessible via the elevator, which must be operated by a staff member. None of our other museums are currently accessible.
We do not provide wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Please see www.newportmansions.org/home/accessibility for specific information about each house and property.
Proper attire must be worn on the properties at all times, including shirts and footwear. Swimwear and clothing with rude, vulgar or offensive language or graphics are not permitted. Admission may be denied if clothing is deemed inappropriate.
We suggest one and a half hours for each property, allowing time to enjoy the tour, explore the grounds and visit the Newport Mansions Stores.
Limited free parking is available at all properties except Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, where only street parking is available.
Young children are always welcome, and children under the age of 6 receive free admission; however, we cannot allow strollers or carriages inside the museums because of the damage that such vehicles can cause to historic surfaces and furnishings. Stroller parking areas are available near the entrance of each museum. Strollers are allowed on the grounds.
Yes, service dogs are allowed in the museums, provided they are leashed and under the control of their owner, as required by law. In compliance with regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, guests with dogs may be asked if their dog is a service animal and what service/work/task they are trained to perform. At no time will the answers require disclosure of medical information.
Animals that are considered “comfort animals,” “therapy animals,” “companion animals” or “emotional support animals” are not service animals as defined by the ADA because they are not trained to perform a specific task for an individual with a disability. Therefore they are not permitted in any of the mansions or on the grounds.
Please do not leave pets in your vehicle while you take your tour, as temperatures inside a locked car will quickly become unsafe and even deadly.
No. There are no lockers or storage facilities. Personal items may not be left at the front desk. Guests 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.
Only water in a sealable container can be consumed inside the museums. No other drinks or food are allowed.
1. To be courteous of all guests, earbuds or headphones are required when listening to the audio tour on your smart device. 2. There is no smoking or vaping on any Preservation Society property. 3. Food, gum and beverages are not permitted inside the museums, with the exception of water. 4. Security system in use. No personal items such as bags or luggage may be stored or left unattended at any property. 5. An authorized Preservation Society photographer or videographer may record your image for promotional purposes. 6. Touching objects in the museum is strictly prohibited. 7. Strollers are not allowed inside the museums. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 8. Sale or commercial use of images taken on or from any Preservation Society property is prohibited. Exceptions can only be made by prior written agreement. 9. Tickets and memberships are non-transferable, non-refundable and may not be resold. 10. Guests must follow direction of Preservation Society staff.
Yes. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied at all times by a parent or adult caregiver inside the mansions and on the grounds.
Yes. The Preservation Society permits non-flash interior photography in all of its museums except Hunter House and The Breakers Third Floor tour, and outdoor photos at all properties, for personal, non-commercial use only. Selfie sticks and tripods are not permitted inside the museums. Read the detailed photography policy.
The Newport Mansions do not provide transportation. Guests can drive, walk or take public transportation between houses. We ask that guests who use our parking lots please move their car when they visit different properties as all parking spaces are needed.
Public transportation is provided by the R.I. Public Transit Authority’s Route 67 trolley, which operates from the Gateway Transportation Center at 23 America’s Cup Avenue. See “Public Transportation” below for more information.
Yes. Specialty guide-led tours include Hunter House, Chepstow, Beneath The Breakers, The Breakers Third Floor Preservation in Progress and The Elms Servant Life. These tours are given at specific times and are limited in capacity; advance ticket purchase is recommended.
Additionally, we offer Personal and Private Tours for guests. Please visit our Exclusive Experiences webpage for more information.
Yes. The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer and Kingscote offer engaging self-guided audio tours. The Breakers and Marble House also offer fun children’s self-guided tours. Earbuds/headsets are required to listen to audio tours. Please download the free Newport Mansions tour app before you visit.
Green Animals Topiary Garden and Isaac Bell House are self-guided tours with no audio component.
Printed scripts are available at all museums in multiple languages and staff are available to answer any questions.
The only holidays for which we close are Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. There are times when we may close for special events. Please check the Operating Schedule before your visit.
Not all the mansions are open year-round. The Operating Schedule shows which mansions are open and when; you can select a specific date, or see a monthly calendar or the whole year’s schedule by switching from “Day View” to “Month View” or “Year Overview.”
Residents of the City of Newport can enjoy free general admission to our properties in Newport whenever they are open for tours. Newport residents must check in upon arriving on the property, even if they are only visiting the grounds. Proof of Newport residency is required. This offer also applies to service members stationed at Naval Station Newport, as well as students from the Naval War College and Salve Regina University (current Naval Station Newport orders or student ID is required).
Excludes special events and specialty tours such as Beneath The Breakers, The Breakers Third Floor Preservation in Progress Tour, The Elms Servant Life Tour, Hunter House, Chepstow, Inside “The Gilded Age” Tour and Sparkling Lights at The Breakers.
Residents of Portsmouth, R.I., can enjoy free general admission to Green Animals Topiary Garden whenever it is open for tours. Proof of Portsmouth residency is required.
On select days during the year, we offer free general admission for residents of Jamestown, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton. Visit the Events Calendar for these dates.
NARM members can enjoy free and unlimited admission to any of our general-admission properties.
NARM members do not need to make a reservation to visit The Breakers.
NARM access is available to members listed on a membership card of an affiliate institution that includes a NARM logo. For example, if the card reads:
• Jane and John Smith – Jane or John must show a photo ID; they both get in free. • Jane Smith and 2 children – Jane must show photo ID; she and two children get in free. • Jane Smith and Guest – Jane must show photo ID; Jane and her guest get in free.
NARM members do not receive discounts or free admission for any of our Specialty Tours or Events. Including, Sparkling Lights at The Breakers.
To utilize the NARM benefit, please bring a photo ID in addition to your membership card with the NARM logo. Anyone not listed on the card must have a ticket to see our properties.
Yes! Families with valid EBT or WIC cards from any state are eligible for $4-per-person regular admission per house for up to four people. This discount can only be claimed when purchasing tickets in person at The Breakers Welcome Center, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff or Green Animals Topiary Garden. Please show your valid EBT or WIC card. Photo ID also required.
The discount is offered for any self-guided tours, including The Breakers*, Marble House, Rosecliff, The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer, Green Animals Topiary Garden, Isaac Bell House and Kingscote. Excludes specialty tours and special events.
The Museums for All initiative is a national access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Association of Children’s Museums that encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly.
*Please note that you do not need to book a timed reservation in advance to visit The Breakers if receiving the Museums for All discount.
No. We no longer require proof of COVID vaccination or face coverings.
Yes, please email Info@NewportMansions.org or call (401) 847-1000, ext. 158, if you have lost or found something on one of our properties.
Our mission is to preserve the Newport Mansions for generations to come. The maintenance of 11 historic properties and landscapes requires the thoughtful planning and execution of a multitude of preservation projects. While our teams make every effort to minimize the impact of these projects on our guests, you may encounter any of the following during your visit:
• Light construction and restoration work. • Artwork or other historic objects temporarily taken off display. • Modified tour routes, entrances and exit routes. • Sounds from landscaping equipment.
We appreciate your support as we conduct the work required to preserve these beloved properties.
Visit www.DiscoverNewport.org.
Email Info@NewportMansions.org or call (401) 847-1000, ext. 158.
The Breakers, Marble House and Rosecliff are partially accessible for mobility devices. At these three houses, the first floor can be directly accessed by guests who use a wheelchair; the second floor is accessible via the elevator, which must be operated by a staff member. None of our other houses are currently accessible.
See specific information about each house and property on our Accessibility page.
Parking is free onsite at all properties except for Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, where street parking is available.
Parking lots for The Breakers and Marble House are across the street from the entrance gates. Parking at the other houses is on the grounds.
The Preservation Society of Newport County is a proud supporter of Bike Newport and the “Get There by Bike” initiative. We encourage you to bicycle to the Newport Mansions. We have secure bicycle parking at the following properties: The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer, and coming soon at Rosecliff. More information on bicycle parking and helpful tips can be found here: Bike to Newport Mansions – Bike Newport
The Preservation Society encourages our guests to use public transportation to visit the Newport Mansions. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s Route 67 Trolley stops at Marble House (a short distance from Rosecliff), The Breakers and The Elms. Stops along Bellevue Avenue take you just a few blocks from Chateau-sur-Mer, Chepstow, Isaac Bell House and Kingscote. The route begins at the Gateway Transportation Center downtown at 23 America’s Cup Ave.
Route 67 offers free, “hop on, hop off” service from May 23 through October 31, 2025, thanks to the support of Discover Newport and the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.
For more information and a map of RIPTA Route 67, see www.ripta.com/routes/67.
The Preservation Society allows interior photography at all of the Newport Mansions, with the exception of Hunter House and The Breakers Third Floor Tour, for non-commercial and social media uses by guests. Photography is only allowed when it does not disrupt the enjoyment of the properties by other guests. For everyone’s safety, selfie sticks, tripods, flash and stairway photography are prohibited.
No commercial use or sale of images is permitted without prior written agreement from the Preservation Society.
During guided and group tours, stops for brief photo ops will be allowed as time permits. Guests taking the self-guided tour may take photographs or video as long as they do not delay other guests. Guests may not record guides giving their presentations. At no time may guests step beyond the roped boundaries of the tour route. Photo ops may be limited when there is high-volume visitation. In all cases, guests must follow the direction of house staff about photography.
Photography during programs, lectures and receptions will be allowed on a case-by-case basis.
The use of drones over Preservation Society properties is prohibited, regardless of whether the controller is on or off Preservation Society property.
Young children are always welcome; however, we cannot allow strollers or carriages inside the mansions because of the damage that such vehicles can cause to historic surfaces and furnishings. Stroller parking areas are available near the entrance of each mansion. Strollers are allowed on the grounds.
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. Please do not leave pets in your vehicle while you take your tour, as temperatures inside a locked car will quickly become unsafe and even deadly.
Restrooms are available for guests at all Newport Mansions. At The Breakers, additional restrooms are in the Welcome Center.
There are several dining options at the Newport Mansions.
Learn about the various tours offered at the Newport Mansions.
We welcome adult and student groups to visit the Newport Mansions. Your group visit helps preserve these great houses.
Download our tour app before your visit and bring your earbuds.
Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Explore the 11 properties under the stewardship of the Preservation Society and open as historic house museums.
Partners in Preservation
Treat yourself or someone special to an unforgettable day of music and history at the Newport Mansions. This experience pairs world-class performances with personal guided visits at some of Newport’s most iconic mansion properties for two guests.
Begin your day with a beautiful Newport Classical concert at The Elms — an inspiring musical start in a spectacular historic setting. After the concert, you’ll savor lunch at The Elms Carriage House Museum Café. Next, enjoy a personal guided tour experience at Marble House. If you still crave more Grand Tours, continue your afternoon with a self-paced tour of Rosecliff and a visit to the second-floor “Revolution Reimagined” exhibition, or you could choose to enjoy all that Newport has to offer downtown on your own for the afternoon.
Return in the evening for another extraordinary Newport Classical performance set within one of America’s most celebrated historic houses — The Breakers. The perfect finale for your unforgettable Newport day.
Children and grandchildren alike will love the opportunity to spend time with you, enjoying this gift of discovery, creativity and adventure with this exclusive Family Program Pass at the iconic Newport Mansions properties.
This exclusive option guarantees two children reserved spots in any 2026 family programs, even the sessions that traditionally sell out. Skip the waitlists and secure a season filled with hands-on learning and fun.
From art and craft workshops to interactive storytelling and immersive experiences, young participants will explore history while creating unforgettable memories across the Newport Mansions.
Perfect for curious minds, budding artists and families who believe adventures are best served with a touch of education.
Be among the first to secure access to one of the most sought-after evenings of the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival in 2026 — the Vintner Dinner at Rosecliff. This exclusive auction package includes early-reservation access to the always sold-out Vintner Dinner, an extraordinary evening of fine wine, exceptional cuisine and elegant hospitality set within the grandeur of the Ballroom at Rosecliff.
In addition, this experience includes tickets to the lively Jazz Brunch on Sunday of Wine Festival Weekend, offering another opportunity to savor the flavors, atmosphere and celebration that define this premier culinary event. Guests attending the Jazz Brunch will also enjoy access to the lively Tasting Tent at the 2026 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, where you can sample an array of wines, spirits and food samples from sponsors and culinary artisans.
From sparkling glasses beneath glittering chandeliers to relaxed daytime indulgence, this package delivers a full weekend immersion into Newport’s most celebrated food and wine tradition.
Host an unforgettable evening at The Elms, one of Newport’s most opulent Gilded Age homes. Inspired by the 18th-century French château d’Asnières and completed in 1901 for coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind, The Elms was designed for grand entertaining. Its lavish Ballroom, overlooking multi-level garden terraces and the sweeping back lawn, provides a setting of elegance and landscape beauty.
Your private event for eight guests begins with a cocktail reception in the magnificent Ballroom or the garden terraces, where your guests will gather to enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres. The atmosphere will evoke the glamour and sophistication of Newport’s legendary summer social season.
As golden hour approaches, guests will ascend to the rooftop terrace, an exclusive vantage point rarely experienced, to take in sweeping views of the gardens, Newport Harbor and beyond. With glasses in hand, watch the sun dip below the horizon as The Elms glows in the warm light of dusk.
Perfect for a memorable evening with friends, this experience offers timeless elegance, breathtaking views and the rare opportunity to entertain in one of Newport’s most iconic historic houses.
Experience an extraordinary evening of dining and history at Rosecliff, one of Newport’s most dazzling Gilded Age landmarks.
Completed in 1902 for silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs and inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles, Rosecliff quickly became synonymous with legendary entertaining. Its luminous façade, sweeping oceanfront terrace and magnificent interiors remain a testament to an era defined by elegance and refined hospitality.
Your exclusive evening for up to 16 guests begins with wine and small bites on the beautiful, covered terrace with stunning ocean views. From there, guests will be welcomed into the historic Dining Room, where you and your guests will be seated for a three-course chef-style menu.
With each course, a Preservation Society curator will present a carefully selected object from the collection. Together, the curator and chef create a seamless experience where culinary artistry meets cultural storytelling. From exquisite decorative arts to personal treasures of Newport’s Gilded Age families, each object will spark conversation and reveal rare, behind-the-scenes insights into the lives and traditions that shaped Newport’s celebrated history.
This is more than a dinner — it is an immersive journey into Newport’s golden era of entertaining, where architecture, artistry and elegant dining come together for one unforgettable night.
Do not miss your chance to claim one of the most coveted holiday experiences of the year. This special opportunity allows the winning bidder to invite friends to an unforgettable black-tie Holiday Dinner Dance at the iconic Breakers in December 2026. This is not just a party, it is a grand seasonal celebration wrapped in elegance, music and dazzling décor.
Your evening begins with a festive cocktail reception and hors d’oeuvres, followed by an exquisite multi-course holiday dinner served in spectacular surroundings in the Great Hall and majestic State Dining Room. Then take to the dance floor for an evening of live music in the beautifully decorated historic rooms glowing with holiday splendor. Every detail is designed to deliver holiday magic.
This black-tie evening sells out every year.
Step inside one of the legendary Newport Mansions for an exclusive, after-hours photography experience unlike any other. Hosted at a Preservation Society property such as The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms or Rosecliff, this private two-hour session offers rare access to the mansion’s extraordinary interiors and grounds when the museum doors are closed to the public.
Whether capturing a cherished family portrait, marking a milestone anniversary, creating holiday cards in a grand historic setting or simply celebrating a special chapter in your life, this experience provides a breathtaking backdrop both indoors and out. From sweeping staircases and gilded salons to manicured gardens and ocean views, each frame reflects the timeless elegance of the Gilded Age.
Celebrate a milestone year at the spectacular Newport Flower Show with this weekend package filled with festive events and engaging lectures. Perfect for garden lovers, design enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys Newport at its most colorful, this 30th anniversary weekend experience lets you enjoy the show in style, from the lively Opening Night Party, where you’ll see “everyone,” to the debut of our exclusive “In Full Bloom” Hat Luncheon.
Kick off Flower Show weekend at the can’t-miss Opening Night Party, Friday, June 19, 2026. You will enjoy festive décor, floral artistry and a lively party atmosphere with fellow supporters and sponsors.
Plan your adornments now to attend the Flower Show’s newest and most fashionable luncheon event on Saturday, June 20, 2026. This is sure to be a sell-out. The Hat Luncheon blends flowers, flair and creativity. Guests are encouraged to wear their most imaginative garden-inspired hats while enjoying a beautiful luncheon set in a tent on the sweeping back lawn in the heart of The Newport Flower Show.
Enjoy an exclusive insider experience at The Elms, one of Newport’s most celebrated Gilded Age houses, designed by renowned architect Horace Trumbauer. This special package for four includes a personal guided exploration of the house and a fun and enlightening conversation over lunch with the Preservation Society’s Executive Director, the long-time caretaker who knows the Elms inside and out, and our Landscape Curator, who can share the history of the evolution of the landscape and gardens.
Your experience will continue after your personal tour, over lunch at The Elms Carriage House Museum Café. Bring your questions and curiosity as your hosts share insights into the modern-day realities of preserving and operating a historic mansion, from conservation priorities and restoration decisions to balancing authenticity, access and visitor experience across multiple properties. You will also hear behind-the-scenes stories, unusual maintenance methods and fun, little-known facts about this well-loved property and its rich history.
Prepare for an evening where mystery meets wonder at “Illusion & Illumination,” the Preservation Society’s Summer Dinner Dance set against the breathtaking backdrop of Rosecliff.
Cloaked in elegance and a touch of illusion, attendees will don their most dazzling masks, from classic Venetian-inspired designs to modern, artful creations, transforming the ballroom and sweeping back lawn into a living tableau of intrigue and glamour. Behind every mask is a smile, a surprise and a little mischief, as the spirit of the Gilded Age springs vividly to life.
Commissioned in 1899 by silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs and inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles, Rosecliff was designed by renowned architect Stanford White as a showcase for spectacular entertaining. Its sweeping staircase, luminous ballroom and stunning ocean views have welcomed society’s most glittering gatherings for more than a century. On this special evening, you and your guests will continue that tradition in unforgettable style.
As candlelight flickers, music swells and masks shimmer beneath the stars, illusion gives way to illumination, and an unforgettable night unfolds.
Entertain in true Newport style with a private afternoon games party in the Conservatory at The Elms for up to eight guests. Inspired by the gracious social traditions of Miss Julia Berwind, the estate’s last family resident and noted hostess of bridge games, this exclusive experience invites you and your guests to gather for an elegant, small-group bridge or mahjong party in one of the house’s most beautiful rooms. Miss Berwind helped extend the life of Newport’s social traditions into the modern era by adapting them to more intimate formats.
Your guests will enjoy exclusive access to this luminous garden room, a serene architectural jewel designed for leisure and refined company, for a bridge or mahjong gathering that blends history, hospitality and play. If bridge is not your game, bring your mahjong set/s and enjoy a lively social gathering, a natural fit for the Conservatory at The Elms.
Slow down and savor Newport the way summer residents once did with a personal, architecture-rich experience and a leisurely porch luncheon along Bellevue Avenue.
Your experience begins with personal guided tours of two landmark houses: the Gothic Revival gem Kingscote and the groundbreaking Shingle-Style masterpiece Isaac Bell House. Along the way, your guide shares architectural highlights, design innovations and the social history behind these influential homes.
The experience concludes with a relaxed luncheon on the Isaac Bell House porch, a perfect setting for the time-honored tradition of porch sitting, taking the air, sharing conversation and watching the world go by. Once a central ritual of 19th-century summer life, porch sitting blended hospitality, leisure and community, and remains one of Newport’s most charming traditions.
Unhurried, intimate and distinctly Newport.
Embrace the past with your own Victorian Garden Fête at Chateau-sur-Mer, a lively, elegant outdoor party inspired by Newport’s Gilded Age entertaining traditions.
Your experience begins with a brief personal welcome tour when guests arrive, offering highlights and stories of the house and grounds before the celebration moves outdoors. From there, enjoy private lawn access for a three-hour fête filled with charm, color and classic garden amusements. Relax on the historic veranda or in a shaded grove as guests mingle, enjoy period-inspired touches and play traditional lawn games.
Sip refreshing beverages, savor light garden-party fare and try your hand at croquet and other timeless amusements. Playful, picturesque and wonderfully memorable, this is old-fashioned outdoor fun with Victorian flair.
Enter the relaxed, yet still grand, side of the Gilded Age with a private Carriage House grilling-style supper for up to 20 guests at the historic The Breakers Stable. This distinctive evening blends comfort food, beer and immersive history inside one of Newport’s most atmospheric estate support buildings.
Your gathering takes place among the stable’s remarkable collection of preserved coaches and carriages, elegant turn-of-the-century vehicles that once carried the Vanderbilt family and guests through Newport’s golden era. Surrounded by polished woodwork, iron fittings and beautifully restored rolling stock, guests dine in a setting that feels both warmly rustic and museum-worthy.
The evening opens with a staff member providing a brief history of how the stable functioned as the estate’s true “engine room.” The experience then shifts into relaxed hospitality with a catered menu “hot off the grill” paired with beer and seasonal refreshments, encouraging conversation and lingering enjoyment.
It is an evening of casual elegance with historic character.
Experience your own version of the world of HBO’s “The Gilded Age” with an exclusive after-hours dinner for 10 in the historic service areas of The Elms, including the atmospheric below-stairs kitchen and work spaces that have appeared in many pivotal staff scenes across the series’ first three seasons, where the drama, hierarchy and daily rhythms of Gilded Age household life unfold.
Your evening begins with a private Servant Life Tour, revealing the hidden infrastructure that powered this great house, from workrooms and passageways to household hierarchy and daily operations. Led by an expert guide, this immersive introduction brings the world below stairs vividly to life.
After the tour, guests gather for dinner served in the historic kitchen area, seated at a communal table inspired by period staff dining. Warm, generous and authentic in spirit, the experience captures the camaraderie and rhythm of below-stairs life, in a space exclusively available to your guests for this dining experience.
Blending social history, television lore and unforgettable hospitality, this is a one-of-a-kind evening your guests will never forget.
Host your own after-hours private salon, a small, elegant, conversation-centered gathering where guests mingle, sip and engage with ideas, art and culture, high above the grand halls of The Breakers in the mansion’s storied family spaces on the third floor. Designed in the spirit of Gilded Age social salons, this exclusive experience for up to 10 guests blends refined hospitality with lively historical discovery. Originating in the 17th- and 18th-century homes of Europe, these gatherings were curated by a salonnière (hostess) who moderated discussions, blending social pleasure with artistic debate.
Guests will circulate while enjoying bite-sized hors d’oeuvres in a standing reception format as a member of the curatorial staff shares short, engaging “hidden stories” throughout the event, highlighting new research, conservation insights and behind-the-scenes details about how the house functioned above the grand public rooms.
This experience is equal parts reception and intellectual adventure and is an intimate, exclusive opportunity to explore and entertain in one of Newport’s most iconic mansions.
Perfect for history lovers, preservation supporters or milestone celebrations, a truly distinctive way to toast the Gilded Age.
Bring home the stories of Newport’s great houses and pastimes, one carefully chosen volume at a time. This Newport Mansions Book of the Month experience delivers a full year of surprise reads, selected by our Museum Store staff and inspired by history, design, personalities and preservation of the Gilded Age. Expect high-quality, beautifully produced, large-format coffee-table–style books with rich photography, scholarly insight and elegant design. These are books meant to be displayed, revisited and treasured.
Perfect for history lovers, design enthusiasts and armchair travelers, each monthly selection reflects what our guests are most excited about, including staff favorites, exhibition-related titles and the current best-selling book across our Newport Mansions Stores. Each package arrives by mail, beautifully prepared and ready to enjoy or gift, a yearlong journey through architecture, culture and Newport stories.
Take your place at the table and in society with an unforgettable Gilded Age-inspired experience at Marble House. This exclusive package invites you and nine guests to enjoy a personal guided tour followed by an elegant terrace lunch overlooking the Atlantic, in the very setting where Alva Vanderbilt entertained, strategized and advanced her bold social and political ambitions.
Begin with a personal tour of Marble House, where your group will explore the architectural splendor, social drama and behind-the-scenes stories of one of Newport’s most legendary homes. You will discover how Alva used spectacle, hospitality and setting to establish her place at the top of society, much like the ambitious heroines of today’s period drama, “The Gilded Age.”
After the tour, step onto the covered terrace for a relaxed private lunch with sweeping ocean views. From your table, gaze toward the iconic Chinese Tea House, where Alva gathered with fellow suffrage leaders and helped shape strategy for the movement. It is history, hospitality and a dash of suffrage-era swagger.
Whether you are celebrating a milestone or claiming your own moment to preside in grand style, this is more than lunch: It is your chance to host like a legend.
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