Rough Point

When you were visiting Newport Rhode Island this is an absolutely incredible spot to include on your itinerary! The English style architecture complimented by the commanding views of the ocean that make this a spot worth stopping by! I was here on a garden tour and was hammered by the outdoor blossoms and look forward to a return visit where I can explore the interiors of the mansion!

This museum house, the former home of millionaires Doris Duke, is a must-see. Although there are bigger more elaborate houses in Newport Rhode Island this one is very special because you may find its rooms are livable. The museum section of the home features a display of Newport made furniture from the 18th century and onward. The area where it sits near the ocean is spectacular. It was the day we were there because of the storm front moving in, and the ocean was very active against the huge ancient rocks.

After seeing the Big Four, (Breakers, Elms, Rosecliff and Marble House), we still had time and wanted to see just one more “cottage.” Doris Duke’s Rough Point came up on our search and we are glad it did. Doris Duke’s home was tastefully done. She traveled around the world and was an avid collector. Consequently, every room was filled with hidden gems. Joan, the docent/greeter was fun, interesting and informative. Upstairs, there is a nice collection of furniture and Ms. Duke’s bedroom. There is also a room with a few pieces of her haute couture. The setting is also wonderful with a gorgeous bay view and a bridge. The formal garden definitely needs some loving care, but there are enough flowers to envision what it may have been like in her day.

An unforgettable visit to Rough Point! What an absolutely stunning and fascinating place. Rough Point is not just another Newport mansion it feels like stepping into a perfectly preserved piece of history, where every room tells a story. The ocean views from the property are breathtaking, and the combination of architecture, art, and landscape is truly mesmerizing. The tour was incredibly well-organized, and the guides were both knowledgeable and passionate. They shared so many interesting details about Doris Duke’s life, her art collection, and her love for the estate, which made the experience even more special. You can feel her presence in every corner of the house from the exquisite furniture to the personal touches that make it feel more like a lived-in home than a museum. The gardens and the surrounding grounds are just as impressive peaceful, beautifully maintained, and perfect for a quiet walk after the tour. It’s also amazing how well they’ve preserved the authenticity of the property without turning it into something overly commercial. If you’re visiting Newport, Rough Point is an absolute must-see. It perfectly captures the elegance, charm, and hidden stories of the Gilded Age, while offering one of the most scenic views along Bellevue Avenue. I left feeling both inspired and relaxed, I can’t wait to return someday!

Lovely home and antiques. Not much to see at this house, but the information about the foundation and the work Doris Duke did/does for Newport is amazing.

Beautiful estate grounds. The mansion of course is great but it was not that interesting to me. I think coming off the high of the Chateau Versailles made it a bit underwhelming. The history was interesting to learn as I wanted to know more about Doris Duke who I had never heard of previously and was certainly piqued after learning of her association with Duke University.

DON’T MISS this gem. Between the astounding art collection of paintings, tapestries, porcelains, furniture and more, the house and setting is spectacular. My favorite of all the mansions. A must for many reasons, including hearing about Doris’s life, interests and philanthropy. Excellent docents who can answer any question and tell stories. The views and grounds are stunning.

We love rough point! It is one of the coolest homes we've seen here in Newport and the life story of Doris Duke is truly something to learn about. It has such a cool mix of historical details but also a 90s feel it's so interesting. The flower garden is also so beautiful during the spring and summer! Don't miss it!

One of the "lesser" known mansions, its a must stop when touring the mansions. Very underrated and not talked much about but GO!

Had a good time. Not included with other mansion tour membership or discounts. Beautiful inside and outside.

Rough Point is one of the best museums in the US. It's completely under-rated and should be a first stop in Newport. Sure the Breakers is the most over the top mansion from the outside, but many of the other Gilded Age Museum collections were put back together as they were abandoned for many years and lost the original furniture and art collections that were once in the home. Rough Point is exactly the way as Ms. Duke lived in it until her death in 1993. There staff on hand that constantly narrating the tour which is such a nice pus. They answer any questions you have and have many great stories of Ms Duke's eccentric and opulent lifestyle. This feels like you are in someone's home and get a sense of Ms Duke's life. As for the art, there are 17th century tapestries, substantial renaissance portrait paintings, Del Robbias and Falconer Louis XIV furniture. Placards in the solarium tell where Doris Duke would meet her guests like Jackie O. There is a costume section that feature outfits Ms. Duke wore in her fashionable days. You can see her bedroom just the way she left it. Her hair brushes alone were designed by Tiffany. Doris Duke was the richest woman in the world for most of the 20th Century. The tour is well organized with descriptive plaques giving both the history of each piece and context in Ms. Duke's life. The ocean view from the grounds are the best in Newport. You may want to come back on the same weekend. Best touring site in Newport for sure. Sent from my iPhone

Worst Newport mansion we have ever toured. It was under renovation outside and looked like a construction site. inside had some rooms covered for part of the renovation as well. It was completely underwhelming and overrated. The holiday decorations were minimal and a a joke compared to other mansions like The Breakers which was outstanding. Rough Point should not be listed on the list of things to do and see in Newport during December. It was false advertising and a waste of $60 for our group of four. It should be closed until they complete renovations and they should put more effort into the holiday decorations.

Forget the other "cottages" further up the road. This is THE mansion to visit in Newport. The home itself is incredibly well maintained by the NRF, antiques and paintings that are hundreds of years old look brand new. As an added treat, you can explore the grounds and expansive gardens after your tour inside the house. I'd recommend the self guided tour, not to impune the staff though; they are all very welcoming, extremely knowledgeable about the home, and the art collection. Don't skip this one folks, you won't regret it.

3.5 stars. Our tour guide was very subdued but knowledgeable. We have been to almost every mansion except this one. Also visited Doris Duke'S Shangri La which is a show stopper in comparison. Unfair to compare the two as they are completely different. This mansion was Lovely but a little lackluster compared to other mansions in town which are much showier. We were not told we could not take pics so we did. While many rooms were open for viewing unfortunately the solarium was being renovated. Doris' bedroom was my favorite - fabulous! No gift shop - just know it is a quieter mansion than the buggies in town like Marble House or the Breakers.

First off, just want to say these are camels at the front! Unfortunately, we can't take pictures of Doris Duke's place inside, but it is definitely worth seeing if you've got $25 per person and tons of questions to ask or just to listen. She focused on her work as Honolulu, Waterscapes: Islamic Architecture and Art from her as Shangri La. But all in all, she's like an heiress, philanthropist, art collector, French furniture, European art, Chinese porcelains, and Flemish tapestries... on and on. About 75 mins.. there's a lot to see. Random! She also focused on her room (from JC Penny and other things) ... and she had two gifts from billionaire arms-dealer, pet camels. She would often buy them peanut butter cookies, but then they would freak out inside the when they see the winter mirrors... haha. She spent a lot of time outside with the camel. This was taken from the viewing, but I love it: "Miss Duke's stays, staff at Rough Point would pick vegetables daily for use in the cooking. Vegetables and flowers were shipped from the greenhouses at Duke Farms in New Jersey each spring to be planted, she said. A historical plant list of what was at Rough Point includes artichoke, squash, cabbage, lettuce, onions, peppers, spinach, eggplant, beans, okra and cucumbers. The list of herbs is long, too, including basil, chamomile, chives, dill, fennel, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, spearmint, tarragon, borage, and lovage."

Best of the Newport Mansion tours!! We also did Marble House & The Breakers, but this was our fav. The home, collection & grounds are amazing. Not a museum, but a glamorous home filled with rare antiques, art, decorative arts and fun personal momentous. It feels like the house was just opened up for the season. Absolutely smashing. NRF Foundation. 680 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI

Great 1-tour and learned a ton about Doris Day and her philanthropic work. A good tour to start with on Bellevue Ave.

Wonderful.. not to be missed. Wonderful tour, amazing history and knowledge tour guide was fascinating. Opulent, yet livable and comfortable mansion.. most incredible ocean views in Newport. Lovely gardens, still look good in September!!

This was a great tour! Everyone was nice. The museum was beautiful and learning about Doris Duke was very interesting. I heard about this particular tour in a RI magazine. The topiary camels caught my eye and peeked my interest. I would definitely recommend checking out this spot. I had been to some of the other mansions as a child, but I was not familiar with this one. Doris Duke's mansion museum is definitely worth visiting.

Beware the last showing at 3:30 doesn't give enough time to view the house and grounds. The staff reminded us 3 times that they closed at 4:00. We were so rushed that I turned off the audio recording and left. I would recommend that you don't purchase a ticket past 2:30.

My fiancé and I visited Rough Point on our recent visit to Newport. I grew up in Newport and had never visited this property. Rough Point may not be as popular as the Preservation Society Mansions but, it is 100% worth a visit. I felt like this home stood out in a unique way compared to the other mansions. Everything is original and is as it was when Doris Duke lived in the house. There is beautiful art, tapestries, furniture and decor which include, tapestries from the 1500's, paintings, sculptures, furniture made of mother of pearl, bathroom accessories made of gold and an amazing room that had windows for walls with an amazing view of the ocean. Some of her clothes and accessories are currently on display as well. I only wish that more of her home was accessible such as the master bath and guest bedrooms.

This is a must-see in Newport, RI. The Society has done a fanatic job of preserving this mansion and you can truly see the beauty shining through from its glory days. The guides are super friendly and knowledgeable, but not overwhelming in any way. The view from the grounds is breathtaking and worth the inexpensive $10 admission. You can spend as much time as you want going in and out, which is greatly appreciated. This might not be a great stop for kids, but adults who appreciate art, history, architecture, and/or the Gilded Age will enjoy stopping at Rough Point.

Rough Point is an emotionally empty mausoleum of a woman who appeared at first glance to be a wealthy socialite with unlimited resources who led a glamorous life, but in reality was a lonely person who surrounded herself with trinkets and other material stuff she could not take with her to the afterlife. She even disowned an adopted child, who reportedly settled with her estate for at least $65 million in the 1990s. Don't misinterpret my post: the house (aptly named on further reflection) is quite grand and lovely, but the reason it warrants an average rating is because the house has only one -- yes one -- bedroom for Doris, suggesting she lived all by herself with no friends, no relatives, no nothin'. Evidently the executors converted the other bedrooms into office and gallery space, and one gets the feeling they did so to erase the memories of those who might have stayed there and emphasize she lived a lonely life, bereft of any regular or extended human contact (except for the hired help, of course). Please visit this house to remind yourself that all is, indeed, vanity, and friends and family are far more valuable and lasting than all the riches money can buy.

What a treat to see Doris Duke's Newport home, Rough Point. Unlike the other huge mansions in Newport, Rough Point has all its original furnishings and artwork just as Doris Duke left it when she died. Originally built by the Vanderbilts, the Dukes updated and expanded the home. This home rivals many museums for its extensive art collection of paintings, sculpture, tapestries, china and silver. And the view of the ocean is the best of all the mansions. It really is a must see.

Let me first start off by saying please don't bring your little kids, toddlers, and screaming babies on this tour or any other tours in Newport. Your kids don't want to be there. Why do parents do this? It's distracting to the guide and to everyone else on the tour. We aren't the parents of the year but we knew a 60-75 minute tour was not for our kids so we did it another time when they weren't around. My wife and I took a weekday tour of this property and got stuck with two kids under the age of 4. There was only six of us on this tour. Disaster! The home is beautiful and most of the furniture, rugs, paintings, silverware, etc. is authentic to the house. I would've loved to have learned more about Doris Duke, the person. Great views of the ocean throughout the home. Slightly on the pricey side but well worth it. I know I missed some of the tour due to constant whining and the parents totally not caring. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the property and its furnishings. She should get a medal for dealing with bad parenting. Doesn't everyone get medals just for being there. I should get one after this ordeal. The museums should not allow children under 12 on tours.

The best mansion we saw. Not only is the house beautiful, the place is FULL of eye-popping artwork and amazing decor. We couldn't stop talking about it. 15th Century tapestries, Ming Dynasty vases, Van Dyck paintings, all in the context of a beautiful mansion with fabulous and fascinating history, having been owned by the Vanderbilts and the Dukes (as in Doris Duke.). The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the home and its owners. The personal stories about Doris Duke alone put a tour of Rough Point head and shoulders above the rest of the mansions in Newport. As an added bonus, the grounds were beautiful and perfect for a stroll after the tour. It's a must-see!

Marvelous! Everything about Rough Point was gorgeous. If the museum quality tapestries, Chinese porcelains, Persian rugs, Louis XV & Louis XVI hand-needlepointed furniture, wallcoverings, crrystal chandeliers, or 16th & 17th century European paintings don't do it for you, I am certain you will be charmed by the light & spaciousness of what looks like a forbidding fortress. Or, the glamorous Hollywood decor in which she outfitted her bedroom, or the contemporary solarium overlooking the Atlantic... Moving in today would be easy, beautiful, and comfortable. I was impressed by Ms. Duke's exquisite taste. No other way to describe it; she mixed inexpensive & priceless items, colors, fabrics, and styles in a way that truly works. The personal tour was nice but our guide was a tiny bit forgetful. This is another place that would benefit from excellent photo cards, postcards, or a room by room photo depiction. Too much to remember and I suffered from visual overload. The exhibit of her clothes was fascinating. From haute couture to sequinned shorts, she obviously had style & humor.

This mansion was left and preserved the way Doris Duke left it when she died in 1993, and that sets it apart from the others in Newport. It's location, jutting into the Atlantic, is fabulous and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I loved hearing about the camels! (You'll see topiaries in front.) We loved it!

My partner and I toured Rough Point, Doris Duke's former home, today. While The Preservation Society of Newport has done a remarkable job of saving and restoring several of Newport's Gilded Age mansions, Rough Point benefits from a wealthy owner who lived in her home until relatively recently. Ms. Duke also deserves a lot of credit for providing the funds to help rescue many of Newport's humbler homes. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about Ms. Duke's family, art history, and decorative arts. He wasn't bad on the eyes either! The gardens were lovely too. We highly recommend that you add Rough Point to your itinerary when visiting Newport. You won't be disappointed!

Rough Point is Doris Duke's primary residence on the East Coast, a splendid monument to a person who embraced her charmed life and left us richer for it. This property is maintained by her foundation, and is opened to the public who reserve times to visit. Each tour is in a small group, led by a knowledgeable guide. Ours gave us a sense of the extraordinary quality of the art, tapestries, furniture and architecture, but also the way the Duke family and particularly Doris Duke lived and cared for this wonderful property. This house is different than the Breakers and the other Gilded Age mansions; it brings us up to the late 20th century and the ability to maintain a level of living that most of us can only dream of. It's a reason to visit Newport in itself.

The excellent tour guide made this tour stand out. Doris Duke was an interesting character. Some of the furnishings, like the mother of pearl desk, were striking.

This was one of Doris Duke's homes, and one can easily see why she loved it. Beautiful furnishings, lovely house, grounds (including camel topiaries, which were apparently added after her death), and views. The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely include if you plan to tour some of the Newport mansions.

I am normally a fan of Rough Point and visit often, frequently bringing out-of- town guests, but the NRF's decision to shroud all of the furnishings and objets d'art with tacky white dust covers for the holiday season and scatter around some cheap Hawaiian décor and some tacky garland and tinsel trees was uninspired and ludicrous! Why would anyone want to visit Rough Point over the holidays when the other Preservation Society mansions are so elegantly appointed? There's absolutely nothing to see. I'm baffled as to why someone (or a committee, even worse) thought that this "non-concept" would be entertaining to visitors, not to mention historically of interest or festive for holiday visitors. Rough Point has endured enough of a rough stigma. This beautiful mansion deserves more respect than this - and certainly so do its paying visitors! Go visit The Elms or The Breakers instead if you want to enjoy some beautiful Gilded Age décor and antiquities!

The grounds and gardens really make the tour. The house, while impressive in its scale, was not my style. Lots of artwork from the 1500 and 1600s. I did like her bedroom. Definitely go and see the ocean views!

For this type of museum, it doesn't get any better. Personal, accurate and fascinating. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable--our tour guide, Maureen, was not only very knowledgeable about her subject matter (Doris Duke, Miss Duke's life and the Duke residence("Rough Point")) but she brought the subject matter to life and was extraordinarily patient with questions/distractions. So good that I cannot wait to return!

This was my first but favorite Mansion we visited. Our guide was so good. She really knew the history and fun stories. I loved hearing so much of Doris Duke. Almost felt I could relate at least one friend as her twin. I later experienced the audio self tours at other mansions and would only suggest that be added. It was wonderful

Our tour guide was very informative and kind. The home is breath taking. It was interesting to learn that the home looked just as Doris had left it. The stories of her residency made you feel like you knew her. I wish we could've looked in her closet.