Rosecliff

Rich or poor it's nice to have money! Loved touring all the gilded age homes. Should have a package deal to see all the homes that are open. Currently you can purchase the Breakers plus 2. Parking was adequate however bathroom facilities were lacking for females. There was ALWAYS a line. I liked being able to have the self guided tour on my phone. Maybe something should be said about bringing personal ear buds. We ended up going to Walmart and buying some because we did not bring them from home. Home was not as furnished as the others but just as beautiful. Enjoyed hearing the stories about the owners and servants.

Although I like the Breakers more, I love that there is an art exhibit in this place and they host events. It was good to learn more about the architect himself and I could see little draft/working pieces of other homes in the exhibit. The "backyard" also has amazing gatsby views.

Rosecliff is truly one of the most breathtaking venues in Newport. As a wedding photographer, I’m always inspired by the elegance of this mansion—the sweeping staircase, ornate ballroom, and manicured gardens make for the most timeless backdrops. Every corner feels like it was designed for a love story, from golden hour portraits on the terrace overlooking the water to romantic first dances under the gilded ceilings. The team here is also wonderful to work with, ensuring every event runs seamlessly. If you’re looking for a venue that’s equal parts iconic and romantic, Rosecliff is a dream come true. (Sharing a few of my favorite photos from a wedding here so future couples can envision the magic!)

An interesting “party house” that features a self guided & app supported audio tour of the interior. Upstairs there is an art gallery with historical photographs, paintings and drawings. There is NO ACCESS to the Cliffwalk so plan accordingly.

Rosecliff is an unforgettable encounter with elegance—like stepping into a romantic daydream. It’s one of those places that truly takes your breath away, the kind of timeless beauty and grace you rarely see anymore. Inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles, the mansion is both grand and inviting, with that classic Beaux-Arts charm. The ocean views are absolutely stunning, the gardens are picture-perfect, and there’s a quiet magic to it all that lingers long after you leave.

Went for the 2025 Newport Flower Show. Had never gone before and now understand why there are limited tickets and specific time slots for said tickets. It was cute and fun, but very crowded. As a "younger" horticulturalist who came to the NFS to supplement the loss of the Boston Flower Show, I was slightly disappointed and overall would think twice about doing it again. It felt like most people were there to be pretty around pretty plants and dont get their hands dirty 😂 I expected a slow moving crowd as these events usually attract the older generation, and that is exactly what happened. It wasn't just the elderly's fault though. I have patience for old people who love plants. It was the combination of older people and the younger IG photo snapping crowd was a disaster. The house is big but not THAT big, and I feel like everyone was so posh with their noses in the air they didnt take anyone else's time or space into consideration. There were displays I didnt even see because everyone needed a photo and couldnt get ir right, or would stand and wait til other got out kf their shot to get the perfect shot. The people were not the ephemeral vibe that plants and gardening is. The vendors fell below par, totally catering to the pretty posh people instead of plant people. I did get to touch base with a vendor from the Boston Flower Show, and that was great. Would probably attend solely to purchase from her in the future.

Ask for elevators. There are lots of stairs with no railings. The gardens and back lawn are the best parts.

My husband and I went on a rainy day and it was perfect. It was not overly crowded and there wasn’t any wait. Rosecliff is definitely one of the more “demure” houses but that’s what makes it so beautiful. It was designed tastefully. It’s definitely smaller but still just as interesting as some of the bigger houses. The staff are friendly and informative. Highly recommend bringing headphones if you decide to do the self-guided tour! Overall, really beautiful!

Newport, RI - built in 1902, Rosecliff boasts the largest ballroom in Newport and is modeled after the Grand Trianon at Versailles. One can imagine the extravagant Gilded Age society parties that must've taken place here. The interior is more sparsely furnished than some of the other mansions, as the house is often used for private events, and is also a popular filming location, having been featured in movies and shows such as The Great Gatsby, True Lies, and HBO's The Gilded Age. The second floor is an exhibition space with changing displays - the current exhibit is on Richard Morris Hunt, America's premier Gilded Age architect, whose contributions included the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC, parts of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, as well as many summer cottages of Newport RI and Manhattan's Fifth Avenue mansions of their day. While the house and grounds are lovely and is a grand example of Gilded Age era architecture and excess, if your desire is to see opulently furnished rooms and decorative arts, then I would pick one of the other mansions to visit first.

There are several mansions to visit in Newport. I would put Rosecliff on the list! The house is bright and the property itself is refined elegance. Rosecliff has been the star of many shows and films, including The Gilded Age, Robert Redford's The Great Gadsby, 27 Dresses, Armistead, and True Lies. You should plan about an hour to visit the mansion. The first floor with its ballroom is especially lovely. On the second floor is an exhibit dedicated to the architects of many of the Gilded Age properties and the techniques they used. The house has a nice gift shop on its lower level where you can find jewelry, hand cream, and other assorted gifts. They offer a free audio tour in their app that's full of interesting information. Parking is free and is located on the property and an easy walk to the front entrance. There is no food service at Rosecliff. You can find a cafe at The Breakers visitor center.

A former private mansion, Rosecliff is now open to the public as a historic house museum. It was built in the early 1900s by one of the four partners in the Comstock Lode and since I visited Virginia City Nevada https://www.yelp.com/biz/virginia-city-virginia-city-3?hrid=THl0VgGYzWE12IuwOl1Jiw earlier this eyar, it was quite timely. The mansion is modeled after the Grand Trianon of Versailles but the real highlights are the grounds. There is a tremendous view of the harbor and of course, parts of the movies The Great Gatsby and True Lies were filmed here. Enjoy the house and then walk the grounds. It's very cool. [Review 18646 overall - 66 in Rhode Island - 2168 of 2022.]

This was another fun Newport Mansion to visit. The ballroom has been used in five movies including True Lies and The Great Gatsby. The views are beautiful of the ocean. The second floor has been turned into a museum of Newport history.

The sordid tale of Rosecliff Mansion. A fortune made from the Comstock Lode. Debutantes. The Gilded Age. Parties with the Vanderbilts. Disrepair. And A Murdered Architect. Rescued by the Monroe family from New Orleans, Rosecliff Mansion has a very colorful history. Commissioned by silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs, the mansion was designed by architect Stanford White. It was modeled after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat at a Versailles in France. It was completed in 1902 at a cost of 2.5 million dollars. The mansion has a beautiful Grand Staircase, a Louis XIV-style ballroom (the largest in Newport), a Louis XVI dining room, a billiard room converted to a library and Crystal chandeliers. It was the site of ballets, operas and even a circus until the Gilded Age ended with the start of World War I. A series of accidents and tragedies ensued. The house slowly fell into disrepair. It was sold for $21,000 in 1941, but not fixed due to the tragic death of the newest owner. It was eventually bought and restored by the Monroe family of New Orleans. They donated the mansion and furnishings to be enjoyed today. Rosecliff Mansion has been featured in several movies including The Great Gatsby, True Lies and 27 Dresses. The architect Stanford White was part of the firm of McKim, Mead & White. The firm was popular in the most exclusive New York Social Circles. White designed New York's Century Club and the neoclassical arch in Washington Square. He was murdered at age 53 by the husband of an ex-lover, who he seduced when she was underage, on the roof garden of the original Madison Square Garden, a building that ironically he had also designed. Get a pass to view Rosecliff along with other Newport Mansions. Check the hours. It closed at 3 during our visit. Parking available. Reciprocal museum passes accepted. See this one before you visit The Breakers or The Marble House if you have time.

The Newport Historical Society has a lot of work to do with this one. The word that comes to mind is "house poor" - like they bought the house and ran out of money to decorate it. Not much to see here except some big undecorated walls. I'm sure it does it an injustice to how it once was. If you're pressed for time or thinking about which houses to visit, you can probably go ahead and skip this one.

A fair alternative to The Breakers, but definitely far less exciting and some opportunity is squandered. Again, the audio tour is a must as there isn't much signage throughout the home; the audio really ties all of the elements in the room together and provides background and context. The story of the original owners is far more interesting than the house itself, and there almost seemed to be a curse with the owners until the Monroes purchased the property and enjoyed 25 summers here. The biggest lost opportunity is that of the odd display case filled with movie posters. There is no signage or explanation on the audio tour, but thankfully a staff member was in the area and mentioned that approximately seven films had used Rosecliff for some of their scenes. The house is also home to a rotating exhibit, which was currently one about Audubon and his famous birds books. While mildly interesting, I did not quite understand the connection and the entire space was a bit lost on me.

I've always had a soft spot for Rosecliff, even though it's largely unfurnished, much of the original decor is gone, and the second floor has been modernized into art galleries. For these reasons I give it only four stars. But I love Stanford White's work (the architect), and the elegant and airy French style of the place. Also, because there's very little colored paneling, wallpaper, etc. and most of the walls are simply painted a creamy antique white, for me it's a nice antidote to the gaudiness of the Breakers and especially Marble House. And you can really appreciate the architectural "bones" of the place and the lovely sculpted garlands on the walls and ceilings.

Again wish we could give half stars, I'd say this home would get about 3.5 stars. It is a beautiful stunning 'cottage'. Upon arrival you will be greeted with the most beautiful staircase which you do get to walk up and down during the tour. It's easy to imagine the extravagant parties that would be held here. The views are beautiful and the rooms are more modest in how they are decorated versus the larger mansions. Since this home changed owners over the years, and also suffered flood damage years ago, not too much from the original furniture is left. This tour is short so be sure to listen to the extra audio features on the tour, very interesting. Many Hollywood movies have been filmed here and it's no surprise. Upstairs is where bridal consultations happen and where the bride gets ready on her big day in modern times. After just a few rooms of touring the remaining portion of the tour is a rotating art gallery. Currently it was a photographer's work on period clothing in popular spots during that era. Interesting but a little disappointing that these old bedrooms are now completely empty. This mansion is worth a visit if you are a member or purchase the 5 mansion pass. This one would be good to check out first perhaps so that you are not left to be disappointed after touring Breakers and Marble House.

Beautiful in its own right, we stopped in due to the allure of visiting the house 1974 Great Gatsby was filmed in. The house itself was gorgeous and had much more open spaces within. The ballroom specifically was beautifully spacious and had a lot of interesting moldings throughout, and you kept noticing more and 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. Though the touring of the maintained rooms themselves felt shorter than the other mansion tours we did, the exhibit in place for Oscar Wilde and the Aesthetic Movement were fantastic. Specifically the focus on women's apparel and the information on Wilde's life. Only critique would be for more information in the exhibit. A lot of the it focused on Japanese and oriental influence on American/European audiences/artists. I personally would have preferred some commentary regarding influential Japanese artists or a note regarding sentiment toward the Japanese themselves as apposed to just the appropriation of their culture. Would be interesting to hear more on these aspects considering the Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted during the guilded age. 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.

Visited this mansion and was very impressed. Unlike the breakers, there were some nice gardens on the premises and as a matter of fact the flower and garden show was there on the week-end before we saw it. Very elegant. Years ago it was famous for all the flowers grown and people clamored to see them. A couple of famous movies were filmed their - The Great Gatsby was one of them. They seemed to be a little more clever about how they spent their money to make the place look like a showcase. Don't miss this mansion.

I agree with another poster to do this on a package. I did like The Rosecliff and the information on the birds and hats was interesting. The outside is the best part of this property. I'm always interested in the kitchens of these Mansions and was disappointed to hear that the Rosecliff modernize to accommodate the large parties. The shower between two bedrooms also took away from the step back in time.

In comparison to the other Newport Mansions, I'm afraid Rosecliff is a bit disappointing. the main reason for this is that most of the upstairs has been renovated to house an exhibit for weird fashion which is honestly kind of irrelevant to those interested in the Gilded Age and its historic mansions. Because of this, the touring time at Rosecliff seems much shorter than other mansions (even some of the smaller ones), and the authenticity is quite limited to the ground floor. Even the non-exhibition space upstairs is mostly used for wedding consultations and prep. It's been modernized and lacks the appeal that I look for on these tours. I'm a member of the Newport Preservation Society, so I can tour the mansions as much as I want as part of my membership. I've been to Rosecliff only twice over the years, but honestly can't imagine myself going back when other mansions are so much better!

Beautiful location, great for weddings but whatever they use on the grass ruined my only worn once jlo silver shoes during the wedding reception i attended. I changed to flip flops within 3 hrs because it scared me

What a beautiful mansion!!! From the grounds to the mansion itself. This was by far the best mansion on the road to see!! Loved the structure. This place had character. $17.50 to tour the inside, which we didn't do cause we didn't have the time to go through it-- very big place...they have weddings here!! The show 27 dresses was filmed here! Will definitely come back to see the toal inside- when we have more time.

This place has some great features, the facade is great, the grand staircase when you come in is striking, and it's got a beautiful view of the ocean. The downside is that it's sparsely decorated compared to the other houses (almost nothing the grand ballroom, just a basic table in the dining room, etc). And upstairs there are a couple of rooms that are decorated, but a large portion is dedicated to an art show (currently one focused on yachts). It's just very similar to a lot of the other Newport Mansions in terms of time period and style, but just a bit less impressive. If you are doing a 5 house pass, it's not bad, but it wasn't very remarkable on it's own. It draws a lot of comparisons to better, more impressive houses, so on it's own it's fine, but it has stiff competition from other Gilded Age mansions. They also focus on movies that have been filmed here...which made me watch 27 Dresses and fyi: the mansion is featured for about 10 seconds in a clip segment of all the weddings the protagonist has been to. It's not like this is the final big scene location. Damn you tour for making me watch that movie. Anyway, it's fine overall, but make it one of the later stops in case you run low on time.

If you've never been on a tour of Newport's Mansion Row, it's worth going at least once to see what some of those robber barons back in the day built for themselves. And if you're interested in architecture and history, there is much to learn and study. If you're interested in landscape architecture and design, well once again, you will have come to the right place. There are a number of mansions to choose from. Two of my favorites are Rosecliff and The Breakers; the latter built by the Vanderbilts. There are others of course so you can take your pick and visit one or all if you'd got the time, money and patience. Rosecliff gets a special review because it was the site of my cousin's wedding awhile back and I got to spend a lot of time there checking things out. It's quite a property both inside and outside with views beyond belief from every angle. This property has also been featured in several movies including The Great Gatsby and Amistad. One a very recent Newport visit, we didn't go in again but just drove by. The drive itself down Bellevue Avenue is impressive and worth a look-see if you haven't got the time or inclination for a tour. For you brides and grooms looking for a venue, this one is quite a stunner. Hosting an event here certainly makes for a great wow factor. Rosecliff was commissioned by a silver heiress from Nevada by the name of Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899 and was modeled after The Grand Trianon at Versailles. Of course. Mrs. Oelrich was known for giving lavish but quite formal and staid parties. When Rosecliff really came alive was in the 1940s when the Monroe family from New Orleans purchased the property and threw a bunch of wild costume parties. They came to Newport to cool off during the summers but it sounds like they heated up the social scene in a great way. New Orleanians can certainly still show the Yankees a thing or two about throwing a good party. As a summer "cottage" in particular it would be hard to find anything wrong with this place. The rooms are large, airy and brilliantly light and bright due to to the gorgeous expanses of windows and French doors leading to the outside. And the breezes and views of the ocean are perfect for sitting out on the back veranda sipping a cocktail. The architect was Sanford White of the renowned McKim, Mead and White architectural firm. They've done some beautiful homes outside of mansion row, in other parts of New England and the world. Going on one of these tours is well worth a visit. Prepare to be blown away by pomp and excess. But personally, I like to imagine those Monroe costume parties. My mask is at the ready. All I need is an invitation.

Rosecliff was the second summer home I visited and it was very impressive from the outside. The inside feels a bit empty as there isn't as much furniture and lot all of the rooms were restored. However, it's still a notable place due to the original The Great Gatsby movie and also True Lies. The audio tour was informative and well organized. I'd say The Breakers is #1, Marble House is #2, and this is #3 of the mansions I visited.

During our last visit to Newport, we finally got the opportunity to visit some of the beautiful mansions. The Rosecliff Mansion is beautiful, but compared to some of the other mansions...I can't give it 4 stars. I've got to be a fan which I'm not. Still, it is worth checking out as part of the Newport Mansions Experience.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to marry rich so that the ceremony and reception can be held here at Rosecliff. That is all. Haha, but seriously, what a beautiful and exquisite property. Upon entering you are faced with an ornate, heart shaped grand staircase. Before climbing this for the second part of the tour, you are led into the ballroom by the real, live tour guide (most of the mansions have audio headsets now). This ballroom is the biggest in Newport and boasts an en filade style design. Meaning. . . the doors in the front lead through to the back with an unobstructed view, making this an ideal setting for outdoor/indoor parties! This place was definitely built with the idea of having a good time in mind. . . which is my kind of place! A billiard room sits off from the ballroom along with a dining room and back patio. I enjoyed hearing about the "Bal Blanc", a party that was held with the theme of white and silver, swans swimming in the fountain, etc. Sounds like the Ultimate White Parties of today, with much more elegance! The upstairs bedrooms were modest, in comparison to some of the others I've seen in Newport Mansions. . . but cozy. There was a display of 70's high fashion up here? Not sure why. Another fun fact. . . several movies have been filmed with scenes here including the Great Gatsby, True Lies, Amistad, and most recently, 27 Dresses. Rosecliff is rentable. . . like for my wedding in the future :-D

Great visit - glad we added it to our trio of houses on our ticket. Also the lawn was fantastic (better than all other houses on the tour slate in my book).

Nice take.... so do it on a package. The place is almond of bare and there is not a whole lot to see so paying full price for this one house is NOT worth it. My favorite story is The Great Gatsby, and a great majority of the outdoor and ball room scenes were filmed here. Not the elevator, upstairs or pool scenes. The upstairs, for most part, is now an exhibition hall for paintings. The place is one of the more rented out places. The rest of the house was lived in until the 1940s and is modernized. No Servants Tour is offered. No view of the kitchen.

Bottom Line: A beautiful house with spectacular views but the furnishings are sparse so it's a bit harder to imagine what it would have been like to live here. Upon arriving at Rosecliff I can almost hear jazz plying in the background and laughter swirling about as one of Jay Gatsby's parties unfolds to impress his beloved Daisy. For me Rosecliff evokes this visual not just because this is where the original The Great Gatsby was filmed but because Rosecliff matches my own imagination of how the fictional Jay Gatsby lived and entertained. Rosecliff is no doubt one of the most beautiful historic Newport mansions. It definitely has a sweet and feminine feel to it even though it's most famous owner was a renaissance women that shocked crowds by wearing pants. The architecture is romantic and dainty and the layout and huge windows make the space feel light and bright. Unlike other Newport mansions, the furnishings are sparse so while it may be a bit tougher to imagine life here in the early 1900s it is a lot easier to transform the space for movies and private parties. I was fortunate to attend a wedding here and at moments eating steak, pot stickers and mini ice cream cones in the lavish ballroom felt surreal. One of the biggest draws to Rosecliff is the lush green grassy carpet that has been rolled out between the home and the waters edge and the sprawling view of the -Rhode Island Sound, Atlantic Ocean and beyond. Rosecliff was once the site of a small wooden home with substantial rose gardens and today the tradition of the rose gardens continues although they were not in bloom on my visit. The fountain out back is very pretty and a great place to go skinny dipping at the end of a lavish party. ;-)

Rosecliff was a beautiful stop on a recent trip to Newport. There was plenty of free parking and the crowds were at a minimum. The exterior of Rosecliff is stunning & after just having visited the Breakers we were expecting the same level of opulence. Unfortunately we were a little disappointed. There is an audio self-guided tour that you are offered at the entrance. Unlike the Breakers & the Marble House, there weren't as many markers along the route, so you had to really be paying attention or else you could easily make a wrong turn. On the second floor there was an art/fashion exhibit with no explanation or docent that was nearby to explain anything. Also, Rosecliff hosts weddings, so the "Bride's changing area" was curious. It didn't seem to be well taken care of. The house was quick to navigate through, it took about 30-45 minutes to tour. If you have the membership pass or the 5 house pass Rosecliff is a beautiful stop, but if you only have time for 1 or 2 mansions, bypass Rosecliff for the Breakers or Marble House.

Pretty good tour, but much shorter then the Breakers tour. Not as much history but the outside in the front and back were amazing.

Of the variety of Newport Mansions to visit, this one is quite beautiful on the outside and the ballroom is gorgeous, inspired by the Palace of Versailles. The grand staircase is lovely, I can see why they rent this out for enchanting weddings. However, the upstairs is not as impressive as the Breakers, Elms, or Marble House. With that said, visit this one BEFORE visiting the other grand (cottage) mansions if time permits. Upstairs in each room is a display of period costumes for viewing. Also, Rosecliff is walking distance to/from the Marble House like 3 or 4 houses away.

I love going here. It is a beautiful building and has great history. Before the building that stands there now it was the summer home of George Bancroft. I know they are in search of a picture of the original home of George. If anyone has a picture of George Bancrofts summer 'cottage' please post and send on to the Rosecliff staff. I enjoyed the fact that it was the setting of the Great Gatsby (earlier film) and was blown up in True Lies. George was an amazing man. Worth looking into if you love American history.

This place is small compared to The Breaker but it is still very fancy and opulent inside. There are many photo opportunities available. I definitely enjoyed this mansion.

Very expensive and not much to see. There are no longer docents or guided tours. There are audio tours that offer little to nothing and if each person in your party does not have a connectable phone and earbuds it will not go well as you can not have the volume loud enough for 3 people to hear the guided tour without being told to keep it quiet. It does not have a starting point. But, worse? There is very little to see of the rooms. There are no stories or anecdotes to be told because there is no one to tell them! There are about five room open total, mainly with museum like displays to read and observe. Much of the mansion is now closed to the public. You can walk outsside and see a small garden area and a huge spread of lawn. That's it folks. Will take all of 30 minutes inside and maybe, maybe, 15 outside. Way not worth your time or money.

What a cool place! When taking the audio tour be sure to also select the stories below the guided tour for more info... they had some real gems that made me think, laugh out loud and be awed by the history. A bit pricey but we couldn't buy any bundled tickets because of the time we had allotted on our trip. If you are into art, architecture or history this is a must!

Just another example of the beautiful mansions in Newport. The history of the house is pretty unique, and not quite the same as some of the other houses. There's an interesting divide between "old money" and the "new money" that built this home. This one is still used for weddings -- which is pretty cool if you can afford such a thing! I loved that the house is popular in movies & stuff too. The inside is somewhat bare, considering that they don't have much original furniture and the rooms are used for parties & filming. The backyard is gorgeous and is easily the highlight of the home. I wish I had actually seen the roses in bloom, but Memorial Day Weekend is too early for that, in case you were wondering. Because this house is so unique, I'd say that if you only have time to see a few houses, this shouldn't be one of them. But it's definitely worth a visit if you are planning on seeing most or all of the homes! And definitely see one of the traditional homes (Breakers, Elms, etc) before this one, so you can fully appreciate the differences you will see here!

This is a beautiful property with an interesting history. It isn't furnished to the extent of the other house museums in the area, but it's definitely worth a visit.

I would give more stars if this castle was filled with original furniture but it is not this is more of a generic tour because this place is rented out for movies and weddings so it is not very fulfilling to say the least and i don't think it is really worth the effort there are more to chose from that are more intriguing. if you only have a day go some wear eles

Rosecliff was my favorite of the Newport mansions, and I quickly discovered why it looked familiar when I visited -- it served as the setting for the 1974 film "The Great Gatsby" with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford. While the movie never lived up to the expectations I had after reading the F. Scott Fitzgerald tome, Rosecliff lived up to my wildest dreams of what a Newport mansion should be. The mansion itself is timelessly elegant, and incorporates the indoors and outdoors with the airy ballroom and large windows that allow one to see straight from the front entrance through to the back lawn and the ocean beyond. The stairway is built for drama, with the audio tour explaining how it was designed for one to make an entrance, sneaking down the side as though waiting in the wings to arrive on center stage, also known as the landing. On the day of my visit, catering was setting up on the veranda for a wedding to take place later that afternoon. By the end of my tour, they had begun to set up for a meal in the ballroom. I only wish that I'd been invited to stay for that event -- maybe next time!

Visitors, BEWARE! Skip this tour and save your money. I wish I saved my money and skipped this so-called "mansion" tour since after visiting the other ones like Marble House, Breakers, and Elms, Rosecliff was such a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. I visited last week and I was shocked that this was even considered a mansion "tour". On the outside, its gorgeous but the moment you enter, it goes downhill and is completely UNDERWHELMING. All the original furnishings were auctioned off years ago so there is NOTHING LEFT in the mansion. On the ground floor, there are only 4 rooms to see - the main ballroom (which is probably the best thing to see in the entire mansion), 2 sitting rooms (one of which has a Dutch stove because they didn't have anything else to furnish the room with), and a parlor. All 3 rooms were sparsely decorated and almost empty. Upstairs contained a bedroom (it was the only fully furnished room in the entire mansion), bathroom, and 2 other rooms which are now used to plan events like weddings/corporate events. They closed off a part of the upstairs room for an exhibit on Yachting in Newport which requires an ADDITIONAL TICKET. Why would you charge people separately when it's already inside the mansion??!! Unlike the other Newport mansion tours which can range anywhere from 1-3 hours to check out completely, Rosecliff took me no more than 20 minutes to view. That's right...20 MINUTES. Do yourself a favor and SKIP THIS TOUR.

Every description I found of Rosecliff, described it as the "party house of all the mansions", and the self-guided audio tour talked about this as well. It was a shorter tour, the mansion was much smaller, but the mansion was just as beautiful. I felt it was much brighter than some of the other mansions, but it had a much more tragic history (take the tour to hear about it). Apart from just the mansion, there was small museum inside that had a few exhibits (that I assume change). I don't remember this one having a gift shop, so stock up on your merchandise elsewhere, but I say again, check this one out!

Yes this mansion is beautiful. If you have to choose, pick another this was the least interesting and the staff (well one person) was rude. The audio tour did have some interesting facts, but we finished this property in under a hour when all the others took us over 2 hours. Much of this house is closed off to the public and a large portion is used for "special" exhibits, currently Tiffany glass. Again pretty, but not very interesting. I went with my 4 kids, the 3 older able to explore with the audio tour on their own. All in the general vicinity as me as we started playing the tour at the same time on the provided devices. Obviously my 2 year old was not given a device and didn't just like standing there for extended periods of time. She is great and doesn't touch anything or try to go past the ropes or anything. She did want to either be held by me (gets heavy quickly) or sit in my lap (not many appropriate chairs to sit in, and I don't mine the floor). Apparently the staff member would rather her cry and whine then allow her to sit on my lap on the floor as I listened to the rather long audio clips. Not sure what the issue was. January 2nd...very low attendance day. I was sitting on the floor out of the way of anyone-and visible so not likely to be tripped over (my 2 year old by herself would have been more likely to be ran over, tripped over), not leaning up against anything, etc. Very odd, and annoying. Instead I stood, occasionally picking her up, and every time I placed her down she cried for the other visitors to hear. At the other 3 houses we toured we weren't the only people who found an out of the way place to safely sit and listen to the numerous audio segments for particular rooms (some have 5 or more different segments).

The Newport Preservation Society has done an amazing job of maintaining and continually restoring the Guilded Age mansions. Rosecliff is just one of the many examples. I, especially, enjoyed the special exhibition that was on display about the private yachts which came into fashion in the generation after those who originally built the mansions. Yes, the tour is shorter and less in-depth than The Breakers -- but it is nice to see the grounds, whatever the exhibition might be, and, often, enjoy smaller crowds.

Movies were filmed here and yes it is a pretty mansion, but I would have rather made time to see another place instead. The most interesting I learned was that they rented it out for private parties. The tour is a quick look around the first floor and then you get to explore the second floor on your own. Upstairs is not so much a preserved mansion, but a mixture of that and a bunch of glass cases with mannequins in beautiful gowns that have nothing to do with the mansion itself. Some were from years after the mansion was even in use. So if your time in Newport is limited and you are into the historical aspects this is a spot you can skip. (I thought Marble Head was the most beautiful of the lot and the Breakers had the best tour information)

What can I add that hasn't already been said? Oh my, the wild birds here are noteworthy. The crows were huge and picture perfect on the late Autumn front lawn. My husband and I decided it would be the perfect place to have an Easter egg roll, then tea time inside, then croquet. The further away, the prettier Rosewood is. Sounds like a good metaphor, but I wasn't trying to be poetic. I got the best pictures standing far back. That's how I'd want my Gilded Age summer cottage to be, making the people on the street stop and stare. My ostentatious mansion is more ostentatious than your ostentatious mansion. It is quite stunning and I like its stories--both the real ones and the ones you make-up as you walk around, imagining what life would be like if you lived there. I think everyone does that.

I really enjoy Rosecliff, but it's been hard to visit the past year. They're still undergoing renovations, so there's currently only half of the house available to see. The other buzzkill is that none of the interior furniture is original, so many of the rooms and spaces are either completely empty or just barely furnished. If you're hitting all the mansions one by one, try not to save this one for last because it might be a disappointment.

Beautiful hall, watered down drinks, decent event food. Hall I've been here for two events and both were LOVELY. I wish they'd been during the day because the view was wasted at night. But the mansion makes a fun backdrop for house music and strobe lights. Drinks The bottles of alcohol must be 1/2 water and some guests said even the wine was weak. I'm an extreme lightweight and therefore not a big drinker, but this was a MAJOR COMPLAINT from the crowd. I saw them pour three inches of "vodka" - which is about four times what I can usually handle - and I was stone cold sober within 15 minutes. Meal The food was just average, not terrible airplane-food but definitely nothing special. TINY portions. My friends

We recently bought a pass to visit 4 mansions. We always enjoy the history and stories with the mansions. Rosecliff is beautiful but the second floor is disappointing. A few of the rooms that you can view is used for a bridal suite. I feel like for the cost of viewing the mansions - the rooms should be in period furnishings. Also a large wing of the house is allocated to exhibits. I wish the exhibits were at least geared towards the period of the house ... instead they are featuring Pierre Cardin fashions from the 1990s, and 2000's.

Gorgeously furnished mansion with large, bright rooms and tons of American History . The tour guide was extremely informative and was glad to answer any questions we had. During the time of year we came, this mansion closes early, so I would make this one of the first mansions to visit.

We only had a limited time in Newport to tour mansions, so we chose to tour the Breakers and Rosecliff. We were excited to see Rosecliff because of the True Lies movie connection. We were disappointed in the house. It was less than what we expected. Way less. The tour was short and there wasn't a lot to see. It was a definite let down after the Breakers. If you have limited time and can only see two houses - don't pick this one as your second house.

The outside is beautiful and has a great view of the ocean, on the cliff walk. The staircase and the dining rooms are the most impressive things here. The upstairs is typical of the mansions and the bedrooms in all the mansions are similar in decor

The architecture stands leaps and bounds ahead of the actual experience. As this mansion was refurbished multiple times, the majority of the mansion is not open to the public. While the backstory is intriguing, I would rather read it online then spend the money to visit in person.

Went to the annual Easter Egg Hunt yesterday - kinda disappointing. Because of the high demand of this event, the NPS has packed in as many tables as possible into Roscliff for the brunch. With only 2 serving lines for several hundred people, the line quickly grew around seating tables in snake fashion. The caterer's did not replenish food supply as quick as needed and some of food was laid out in 'non-symmetrical' fashion. In other words, the food selection was different on each line meaning people were jumping from line-to-line. Combat brunch if I ever saw one. The egg hunt was combat too - and not just among kids. Having the field separated for age groups is fine (0-5 and 6-12), but they were right next to each other. Thus, the older kids jumped into the younger area. Allowing parents to charge the field is a mistake! Nice touch with the balloon making clown. Too bad he was positioned next to the bar and not outside. Another line, yes! And a hybrid one at that (here for a drink or a balloon little guy?). Yep, not really a mansion review, but the mansion ran this event.

I cannot comment on the tour of Rosecliff, simply the house itself. I came here for an annual event where a local ballet company presents The Nutcracker throughout the mansion. The house staff were nice and accommodating. The house pretty and full of history. The Christmas decorations tasteful and pretty.