Marble House

The Marble House is breathtaking. The design and craftsmanship are unreal. You must do the audio tour because it brings the entire experience to life with fascinating stories and history. Every room was more impressive than the last. A true masterpiece in Newport. Definitely worth every minute.

This was our second time visiting this beautiful Gilded Age mansion — and it’s absolutely worth seeing more than once. We especially loved the seaside Chinese-style tea house. Such a unique and peaceful spot!

Visiting The Marble House is like stepping into America’s Gilded Age. Built for Alva and William K. Vanderbilt in the late 1800s, it’s an extravagant showcase of wealth, European influence, and architectural grandeur. The mansion is a stunning mix of opulence and elegance — from the jaw-dropping marble interiors to the Versailles-inspired gold room, every detail reflects ambition and artistry. The audio tour is informative and well-paced, with stories that really bring the house (and the people who lived in it) to life. The Chinese Tea House on the grounds is a peaceful bonus — perfect for a stroll and some great photo ops. Whether you're into history, design, or just love exploring iconic American landmarks, The Marble House is absolutely worth the visit.

Absolutely beautiful home and property. When we started doing our research of which of the Newport Mansions to visit, this one received many mentions so we included it. My husband and I viewed The Breakers and Chateau-sur-Mer as well and this one was by far our favorite. It was very opulent and the attention to detail is incredible. The tea house was very impressive as well. We utilized the app audio tour which was very informative and easy to follow and added quite a bit to our experience. We hope to visit Newport again in the future and will definitely make a return visit to Marble House.

My husband and I had a good time. What a beautiful mansion! Better to come early like 9am, cause not alot of people you can take a good picture.

This is one of the finest examples of a gilded age mansion. Be prepared to be dazzled! Make sure to tour the grounds as well as the inside of the property. Also consider becoming a member of the preservation society to gain unlimited access to all of the properties. We had an opportunity to pop into the teahouse down by the coast as they were setting up for an event, and they were kind enough to allow us to walk in and look around. Very friendly staff.

Very well preserved and an incredibly rich history. The tour is quite short compared to the Breakers and unfortunately the tea room was closed. Seems a shame they don't open the team for at least quick service items like drinks.

Marble house was incredible and full of antiques and just stunning craftsmanship. The interiors and objects reflect a time when money for only the best was no object. The inside feels as if you have been transported back to old world Europe 10/10 Depends on time and day but check online first to see what days and time-slots are available to visit this place.

Beautiful house with the tour being a two for one experience. friendly staff You can either use the guided app or guide pack when you first walk in, that is also offered in MANY languages, to provide you with the history, background and facts of each room If you're a fan of the Gilded Age on HBO- make this stop on your list. They have a gift shop included at the end and don't forget to make your way to the backyard to see the ocean views and visit the Tea House!!!

The first of the Newport Mansions I've visited was The Breakers. I had such a great time exploring the mansion that I couldn't wait to see another Newport Mansion. I purchased single property tickets for my friend and I in advance online. They were $25.00 plus a processing fee each. On the day of, we arrived early and had no problem finding parking in the lot across from Marble House. After the staff scanned our tickets, we grabbed a handout with great information about each of the rooms. The handout is also available in different languages. The handout is our self-guided tour throughout the house. William Vanderbilt built Marble House as a 39th birthday present for his wife, Alva, between 1888 and 1892. How can I get such an extravagant birthday present? It is a beautiful mansion. My friend and I had a great time touring the Marble House and checking out each room. It is smaller than The Breakers, but still beautiful and elegant.

Visited the Marble House in Newport and wow absolutely stunning! My friend and I went in the morning, which was perfect. We found parking easily and beat the crowds, so we got to take our time and really take in all the beautiful details. This is a self guided tour, You can choose between an audio tour or you review the pamphlet for a more interactive experience that walks you through the history. Highly recommend if you're into architecture, history, or just want a peaceful, scenic experience!

We went in October after the tourist two season. But still it was packed. I cannot imagine how busy it is doing this summer. This mansion is also built by the Vanderbilt. For Alba Vanderbilt. I was very touched to find out the Al was a founder of the women's movement. You must tour the Chinese teahouse outside after. I'm grateful that I'm able to vote because of her work. The mansion is beautiful and impeccably designed , a great glimpse of how the rich lived in the summer and this summer cottage. You can download the app and to a self guided tour. There's also written guide that you could read through while you walk.

Absolutely stunning house that's worth a visit while in Newport. I went around Christmas and none of the houses were crowded but in the summer there's typically a wait. *Free parking *The Chinese Tea House sometimes has afternoon tea but check the schedule.

My favorite mansion on the Christmas tour. Try to time your visit when the delightful tea house is open--it's worth the stop (we enjoyed a hot drink on the cold day we were there). Lots of knowledgeable people working here, and the gift shop is fully stocked with wonderful books, treats, clothing and gifts.

So fun to visit during the Christmas holiday season. They had ornately decorated trees in most of the rooms, including the bedrooms! Provides an interesting peak into the opulent living quarters of the wealthy during the "Gilded Age". Our friends had a yearly membership that allowed us to get into all the mansions free. We weren't able to get tea in the tea house because it was booked in advance. So you definitely need reservations for tea!

Breathtaking experience... every Newports mansion is absolutely magnificent and worth to experience Speechless

This was the first "house" we were able to visit. It was incredible! Every single detail was amazing, from the door handles and hinges to the fabric covered walls and window treatments. I loved all of it! I love interior design and architecture so this was a dream to get to see up close!

Absolutely gorgeous Gilded Age mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. We visited the weekend before Christmas and while this was built originally as a summer cottage, the house's halls were decked out for the holidays. A gorgeous way to explore the history of the late 19th century, especially if you're a fan of the show The Gilded Age. The group sizes were smaller than when we were at The Breakers in October and it's nice to have the option to have a self-guided tour (which you can access through the Newport Mansions app, or they have printed copies if the transcript at the entrance). The tour is not handicapped accessible in many places, with lots of stairs to the kitchen at the end. The final stop is the gift shop, which is laid out in a way that makes it easier to walk through than most. Outside, the grounds were beautiful, despite it being December. It was a frigid day, so we didn't linger long. The Chinese tea house is on the far side of the property overlooking the ocean. It's worth a quick walk to see it, even if you don't dine there. Overall, I loved it and would enjoy returning to see it in another season.

If you have time to tour multiple mansions while visiting Newport, be sure to include Marble House on your itinerary. While not quite as grand as The Breakers, Marble House definitely displays opulence and is quite impressive. We enjoyed it just as much as Breakers. After spending about an hour walking throughout the inside rooms, we headed over to the Tea House for some treats! Not only does the Tea House serve yummy treats, but it's situated directly on the water so you can enjoy the lovely view while you indulge. Note that you can buy tickets for the mansions online in advance of arrival. I recommend this as you can walk right inside and skip the line if you already have tickets.

The Gilded Age. A Birthday Present. A Scandalous Divorce. Suffragette. The Marble House was the first over the top summer cottage built for the Vanderbilts during Gilded Age in Newport. The Beaux Arts mansion was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and gifted to Mrs. Alva Vanderbilt by her husband, William Vanderbilt, for her 39th birthday in 1892. The Marble House cost $11,000,000 to build from 1888 to 1892. Over 7 million was spent on 500,00 cubic feet of marble in the fifty-room mansion. The year after completion, William's older brother, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, started construction on largest of the Newport cottages, The Breakers. Three years later in 1895, Alva divorced her husband (which was uncommon at the time) due to his presumed affairs. She kept the house as it was a gift that she received during their marriage. The mansion is truly stunning. It looks a bit like the White House or the Trianon Palace at Versailles at the entry. The monogrammed doors to enter weigh a ton and a half. Both are embellished by the monogram "WV" set into an oval medallion. This opens to a two-story Stair Hall that features walls and a grand staircase made of yellow Siena marble, with a wrought iron and gilt bronze staircase railing based on models at Versailles. The 18th-century Venetian ceiling painting features mythical gods and goddesses. Walking through the mansion, you can imagine that you are at a French chateau. This is because many of the rooms are designed in the Louis XIV style. Several of the interior's marble friezes and statuary are reproductions inspired by the Palace of Versailles. In one golden room, the walls have gold gilt panels with scenes from classical mythology inspired by the Galerie d'Apollon at the Louvre. I loved the Gothic Revival-style room which was built to showcase Alva's Medieval and Renaissance collection. From bookcases to fireplace to the intricate patterns on the ceiling, there are so many interesting details. It was also unbelievable to see how many variations of marble were used in the home. Alva remarried (a friend of her ex-husband) and moved out of the home to another large summer cottage with her new husband. After his death, she moved back to the Marble House and added the Chinese Tea House along the seaside cliff walk. As an early suffragette, she hosted rallies to support women's right to vote. Parking was a challenge. The Marble House closed earlier than some of the other Newport Mansions during our visit. Check the hours. Nice to able to enter for free using our NARM reciprocity passes. Otherwise, admission is $29 or $46 for three houses.

This house is one of my favorites of the Newport Mansions. I love all the marble.. I highly recommend visiting.

The Breakers and Marble House are really beautiful; they're simply a pleasure to behold.  Looking at them, it's not a lot of effort to let your imagination roam back to the turn of the 20th century and envision the totally different kinds of people who lived here. My problem with this place is how expensive it is just to stop by and take a look.  Of the two, the Marble House is the most unique, so (unfortunately) is by far the most reasonably priced. Tip: For my money, spending close to forty bucks a person is too high a price just for taking a look.

Incredible mansion that leaves you in awe. I loved the ballroom and dining room. I will return soon again.

After breakers, this is the most luxurious one IMO. Highly recommended for Newport visitors. Whole mansion is made out of marbles, marbles everywhere!!!! Has lots of historical references, and plenty of memorabilia of the Vanderbilts. There's a Chinese tea house outside the mansion facing the ocean. They serve snacks and drinks there.

Welcome to my new home... if I were a lady of society at the turn of the century, or even summoned to just take out the garbage and dust every inch of this palatial (yet according to the tour a modest home by Gilded standards) this place feels like my architectural soul on display. So much detail, opulence and history. Each room thoughtfully designed even by today's standards. Some may think it gaudy but I think it's gorgeous! Make this a part of your sightseeing tour!

Wow. Must visit for Newport. Can't believe they build this in 1800. The details and materials are luxurious. And bonus Chinese tea house at the back! I can spend 1 hr to check out everything throughly. But 30mins is good for regular walk thru. **No stroller allowed inside the house. Designated area for strollers outside before entering.**

PROS: this is similar to a mini breakers house. Very elegant with nice staff. Beautiful backyard with a great view of the ocean CONS: they close early and the website says you can park on the property... you cannot. You have to park across the street in a lot that's normally full OVERALL: I would definitely come back here and if you've never seen this place before it is a must-do

My favorite mansion so far!Of course it's beautiful and grand and designed with impeccable architecture! Parking it's right across the mansion!No one said anything about the parking and I was having a hard time finding information about that. I would really like to acknowledge Diane who was one of the guides in this mansion and had so many great stories and information for us.She told us she was working there since 1976 and she was so delightful and patient answering all of our questions!!Don't forget to stop at the gift shop where you can find a great variety of small and big treasures.My daughter got me a really cute hand fan!We are planning to visit again in the summer or fall.Please check to see if the mansions are open before you go.

Everything is self-guided so you can go at your pace. If you download an app and bring headphones you can listen to the tour but we did not realize so we didn't bring headphones. They also have printouts of information in all languages so you can read about each room in the house. The architecture is stunning. The history is really incredible. It's a gorgeous property with stunning views and awesome to see the tea house out back! Lots to learn about and you can take as long as you need.

Absolutely stunning and worth the visit!! So beautiful and the flower show here is great!

This home was beautiful. The marble staircase was probably the most amazing things that I saw, besides the lilac bedroom. The grounds of this house were amazing as well, with a beautiful view of the water back near the tea house. I won't bother describing the inside because you have to see it to believe it. There weren't as many rooms to see here but I think it's because this house is supposedly "smaller". Can you imagine?! My third Vanderbilt mansion tour. I enjoyed.

While the House itself is beautiful, it is not up kept like the Breakers. Hazardous areas to walk over and not as clean in common areas. We do not recommend visiting this house, even if it only cost $10 more to see the two, because of how one is treated by the staff while there. We visited first thing and then house was empty except for a small group of older women (who were loud). Yet, We, dressed well and quiet were followed around like we stole bubble gum from a candy store by two women. It was Very uncomfortable and obvious. My husbands hand brushed the marble hallway wall and popped out of no where, was scolded. Yet, another was leaning on the wall. (It was not in a no touch area) The group of women were met with conversation and let to do whatever they wanted loudly. We were watched with no kindness, smile or greeting. We almost let this go until We spoke to Our hotel personnel and they have heard this before from visitors. Absolutely unacceptable. I hope The Marble house looks at their cameras and does something about these two women. (One looked to be hispanic and the other dark hair). Last week, Thursday morning visit.

I'd say this is one of my favorite mansions to visit. The property is gorgeous and the grounds are so lovely! Looking forward to visiting again in December!

I would certainly recommend this mansion exhibit. Everyone was very nice inside. You can take an audio tour (bring your air pods), and then go at your own pace through each of the rooms. Not only is it beautiful to see the ornately decorated rooms, it's also a very interesting glimpse back into the times of the Rockefeller and other big American families, and of women's suffrage and their fight for other rights (with the family matriarch's involvement highlighted throughout the exhibits). The gift shop is lovely too, and very on theme! Check out the hats, like the suffragettes wore, and the Marble House magnets made of actual marble.

Of the mansions we toured this week this was our least favorite. The tour was limited. The amount of rooms that were closed off was disappointing. I loved the history of the home. Make sure you download the app and have earbuds so you can listen to the tour. Make sure you listen to the secondary stories In each room.

As the name states, this house is adorned with so much beautiful marble. Definitely my favorite of the mansions so far! I cannot wait to see how this house looks at Christmas time!

If you're going here, be sure to know ahead of time, to figure out how you're going to have lunch/ tea at the Chinese tea house at the back. I loved the tea house (hard to believe they had to physically move it further back from where it stood). The house, is of course, beautiful, over-the-top, ostentatious and all that, to the point of almost being overwhelming to the senses. The tea house/ pagoda is so novel and cool and left me wondering how they came up with this idea. And they have done great credit to the tea house, because the tea and treats I had were outstanding. Don't miss the coffee cake if they have it--maybe best one I've ever had. I'm definitely going for the full high tea experience next time!

The Marble House is beautiful. Especially if you are in Newport, this attraction is a must see. The history and the story of the Vanderbilt's is very interesting. It is amazing how detailed the architecture is inside the home and how well preserved it has been kept. The back of the Marble House is also very beautiful, you have a beautiful view of the ocean. Overall, great experience at the Marble House, my husband and I took several photos! We were marveled at the interior design, the detail of the architecture both interiorly and exteriorly. A must visit if you are in Newport.

I'm not sure I can call this an annual tradition just yet, but I have a good feeling soon I will. I've come to New England the past two years to run the Cape Cod Marathon in Falmouth and directly following I head back to my hotel, grab a shower, pull myself together and head to Newport for mansions! cocktails and dinner :) Last year, we visited Breakers because... well I don't like easing into things I want the biggest and best right off the bat. It was so breathtakingly incredible and this year I said, let's visit Rosecliff but we couldn't due to timing (they close an hour sooner) so I decided on Marble House. I LOVE love love, touring these homes and it gives me a good way to keep moving after a marathon rather than just sitting around, the stairs in the homes also provide an opportunity to access just how sore I am ;) It's all fun stuff. I highly recommend touring Marble House. I love the self guided audio tours and all of the fun facts. Can't wait to make it back to tour Rosecliff and others. If you love extravagant elegance, you'll love these tours!

It is smaller but much more elegant compared to the 3 main mansions in Newport. This is my personal favorite. Go to newportmansions.org for further information

What's not to love about the Newport Mansions especially when decorated for the holidays?! So much history in our state! I love the self guided tours.

I was asked to describe Marble House in one word and the word that came to mind was "feminine." It's the landscaping of the pastel flowers outside with the white of the marble inside. Aside from the Breakers, definitely my favorite of the houses I visited. I also loved the room completely covered in gold because why not

This was my favorite of the mansions we visited. The fall time is a perfect time to visit as it is not as busy. This house is spectacular, and if you have to pick one house to visit, I would actually recommend this one over the Breakers, but honestly, you can't go wrong with either of them!

Besides the Breakers, Marble House is the second MUST see on your mansion tour of Newport! The grounds of the Marble House are beautiful as well, if you have time, stroll through! You'll find yourself at the Chinese Tea House. You are given a headset to help guide you through the Marble House. Winters are not too bad at the Marble House. The crowds are sparse, and you get an escape from the cold. The summer is a different story. Crowds from all over the country come to Newport. You find yourself having to shuffle through. The heat from summer can make the house feel a bit stuffy.

This is one of the mansions you must see if you're visiting mansions. If you're only seeing one... Breakers is bigger but Marble House is a great one too. The house is stunning and gawdy in all its Gilded Age charm glory. It continues to amaze me that these cottages were only used in the summer for 6 weeks! They have a gold room, a Gothic room and many other rooms to explore. The grounds are beautiful, be sure to walk over to the Chinese Tea House. The architecture is beautiful. I recommend getting a pass, if not it's $17.50 per person. But 5 house pass is $35 I believe. So go see a few and maybe even pack a lunch to enjoy on the grounds on a nice day.

Crazy pretty at Christmas time. I can't imagine the hours it must take and the man power to decorate all those rooms. The audio tour is nice because you can go at your own pace. The kids even enjoyed it.

I have been to Newport hundreds of times; but never felt interest to see the Marble house until I was on a sailing trip day before and someone was commenting on level of detail. I am someone detailed orientated... so decided to see for myself. I found the level of detail fascinating vs The Breakers other Vanderbilt railroad Barrons other prior summer home. The marble, stain glass windows was enough for me to say visit was interesting to learn and read about. I am now compelled to read more history as when seeing real history, it warrants more learning on my part. All the people operating the property for the tours you could sense their devotion to the historical significance in Newport. The free trollies now in Newport I found great and saved me driving there, parking in heat, and views from trolley were great as can't sight see when driving... Saves a lot of unneeded traffic too ... I left my car and took the free rides welcoming.

This was the first Newport Mansion I've visited so honestly I don't have personal experience to compare this to the Breakers, Elms, etc... We paid $17.50 for one standalone adult ticket as the membership covered the in laws and one guest. They provide everyone a tablet and headphones to do your own self-guided tour. I loved that I could go at my own pace and I lagged behind taking tons of photos! I loved the stories behind Alva and William K. Vanderbilt. Her room as well as her daughter's room are so opulent and I thought it was hilarious that the sons' rooms were so small in comparison. Then I remind myself this place was just their summer cottage. They rented it out during the other months. If you visit during the winter after the 3rd week in November and between New Year they have it splendidly decorated for Christmas! The giant kitchen also includes a beautiful gingerbread mansion. For more photos and history about the Mansion https://ratedbyhanna.com/2017/12/07/christmas-in-newport-marble-house-and-dining-guide/

We visited the Marble House on a cold, breezy November day. It was Friday and very quiet, so it was nice to take our time and go through the house. It's stunning home from the Vanderbilt's. It has an interesting history, Alva Vanderbilt lived quite the life. You receive a free audio tour and they really went into her life. She was big on women's rights. While it was a breezy, cold day, it was sunny. We walked the grounds outside and went to the Tea House which is right along the cliffs. The cafe wasn't open since it was off season, but it was a beautiful place to check out.

What a beautiful and opulent home! My fiancé and I spent this past weekend in Newport and after completing the Cliff Walk, decided to visit the Marble House mansion. It is very well kept and we were awestruck by the grandeur of the home, with much of the decor and interiors inspired by the Palace of Versailles. We spent about an hour on the self-guided tour (with a helpful pamphlet explaining the history and decor of each room) and it was a great history lesson on the Gilded Era and getting to know the background of the Vanderbilt family. We were able to visit the Tea House and beautiful outside grounds as well.

Not much more to add to what everyone else is saying. But this is really a gorgeous place. If you have a kid, ask for a scavenger hunt. It's fun for the adults, too. Some are hard to find and it feels like an accomplishment when you do. I am sure the audio tour is great but when you go with a kid it's hard to enjoy. You can get a printout of the tour, so I recommend doing that if you can't listen. The views outside are also spectacular. It's my favorite of the mansions!

I'll start by saying, the home is absolutely beautiful inside. This review really should be a 3, but I bumped it up to a 4, because it was a beautiful day and I haven't been to any of these mansions in years, so it was a nice change in scenery. The tour seems......overpriced......I think for 17 bucks, they could probably have a live tour guide. But what do I know? I have been moonlighting as a tour guide for years.... I found the audio a little confusing to follow at times and to be honest, I think it was because the monologue was pretty dry. I was losing interest towards the end. I'm not sure if there were marital affairs, any other type scandals, ghosts haunting the hallowed halls, or SOMETHING at the Marble House, but come on.....throw me a bone here. That said, I appreciate the opulence. I appreciate the extravagance. I appreciate the decor. I appreciate the unique look of the "gothic room". I appreciate learning about the wealthy family who lived here for just a few months out of the year. And for crying out loud, I appreciate the marble. But I really wanted a scandal. Or a ghost.

Absolutely exquisite! Marble House is another Vanderbilt masterpiece. Although not as large as the Breakers, Marble House definitely has its own charm & beauty. There is a convenient, free parking lot across the street from the property so you don't have to worry about additional parking fees. I had purchased the membership previously at the Breakers, so the Marble House was included. I highly recommend either purchasing a multi-house pass or the membership pass, you will not be disappointed. Upon entering I was greeted by the staff and given an audio tour headset w/an iPod-type device. The great thing about the audio tour is that it's self-guided so you can move at your own pace. The path is marked extremely well, so if you are unsure, you can just check the signs against what is on your tour device. The audio tour goes into great detail about each room of the house, the history of the construction, the family history, and much more. My absolute favorite room was the Gothic room. It was such a departure from anything else that I had seen in any of the houses thus far. Absolutely stunning. We visited during the week, so the crowds were minimal and it was very easy to maneuver through and take photos. I'm not sure how the weekend crowds are, but I suspect it might be a little more difficult. Definitely will return on my next trip to Newport!

Absolutely stunning property. It's artistry is breathtaking! The architecture and interior design is like no other. From top to bottom, you will be astonished with all its history and phenomenally pieces.

hello, today i got to tour the marble house. the history behind all these mansion are incredible. it cost 29$ to enter the building and the grounds and includes an app you can download to listen to throughout the tour. I would recommend downloading the app before you enter because the reception is very poor considering the fact your in a house completely made out of marble. Each room was filled with elegance and culture. Listening to each recording for every room was pure and reminds you of many traditions. the outside of the house is gorgeous the flowers are delightful also. Over all, i truly enjoy the marble house more than the breakers even though it is slightly smaller.

A fun tour of a historic home/mansion built in the guilded age (1870-1900), known for it's lavish display of wealth. Pro-tip: there are a few different mansion tours, so if you know you are going to do more than one you can buy a package. There is a 2 house or 5 option, but you can buy the 2 and upgrade later to the 5, paying just the difference of $6. And the tickets never expire, so if you buy it now but only go to 3 houses, you can hang onto your tickets and come back in 5 years and see two more. The visit includes an audio tour, which has information on each room but also options to learn more about the family, specific insight into pieces in the room, history of the time, or construction of the house. The tour without these runs about 40 minutes, but I decided to soak in all the extra info and it took be roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes. The house itself was gorgeous and designed by Alva Vanderbilt. Very much felt like the East Coast Hearst Castle: very interesting but super opulent.

"Doesn't look like much when you walk past..." suggests the Yelp script. Oh how off-key. Alva Vanderbilt would turn in her grave if those words were committed to internet "paper". As preparation for visiting this gem of a "summer cottage" I suggest first reading "A Well Behaved Woman" and "Murder at Marble House". Then proceed to visit and then read the books again with the layout of the place more familiar to you. My husband and I went off season (and well before Rhode Island State Troopers went door to door looking for NYers with the 'Rona) We got the winter pass which allows entry to all the open mansion/cottages and then added on tours as we saw fit. Some tours are included and some are not. It's not a cheap endeavor but we saw it as well worth it, the house is well preserved and the tours are quality. Going off season adds the benefit of no crowds whatsoever. We have panoramic shots of each room with no visitors in it. There are bathrooms and requisite gift shop (like all the cottages) but in the off season there was no food or snacks. During peak I believe there is the option for tea time in or near the Chinese pavilion out back. Note that there is no access to the Cliff Walk. Enjoy!