Newport Mansions Preservation Society

I love doing these tours. The houses are so beautiful. Seeing what the rich lived like during the Gilded Age is so amazing. I hope to work there in the future and have the opportunity to share these amazing stories with everyone!

Our recent visit to Newport, Rhode Island was truly unforgettable—and the highlight of the day was touring The Breakers, the most iconic of all the Gilded Age mansions. If you only have time for one estate, this is the one to see. Built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in the 1890s, The Breakers is a jaw-dropping Italian Renaissance-style mansion with 70 rooms, an oceanfront terrace, and interiors that rival European palaces. From marble columns to crystal chandeliers and ornate ceilings, every room is a work of art. Our guide Rob made the experience even more special by weaving in rich historical context and colorful stories about the Vanderbilt family and the era of high society summers in Newport. Also funny trolly car to drive around on! 🎬 Film Location Bonus Fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age will love knowing that The Breakers was actually used as a filming location for Bertha Russell’s New York mansion, including scenes shot in the Great Hall and Music Room. The moment you step inside, you feel like you’re part of a movie set. 🏛️ Other Mansions Worth Exploring While The Breakers was the centerpiece of our tour, Rob also shared stories and insights about several other homes that gave us a full picture of Newport’s luxurious past: • Marble House – Built for Alva and William K. Vanderbilt, this mansion is rich in imported marble and boasts a grand staircase fit for royalty. Alva later became a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, adding political depth to its history. • The Elms – Inspired by a French château, The Elms is best known today for its fascinating Servant Life Tour, which showcases hidden tunnels and the lives of those who worked behind the scenes. There’s even a short film called “Live the Drama” that brings a real-life labor dispute at The Elms to life. Bonus: The Elms was also featured in The Gilded Age series as the Russell family’s summer home. • Rosecliff – With its Versailles-inspired ballroom, this mansion was used in the 1974 version of The Great Gatsby starring Robert Redford. It’s the ultimate party mansion. • Chateau-sur-Mer – One of the earlier mansions, reflecting High Victorian style and showcasing how Newport transformed from a quiet port town into a playground for the ultra-wealthy. 🚗 Celebrity Sightseeing: Jay Leno’s Seafair Mansion As we drove along Ocean Drive, our guide pointed out Jay Leno’s private estate, Seafair. Designed to look like a ship crashing into the Atlantic, this 15,000-square-foot mansion sits right on the cliffs with panoramic ocean views. While it’s not open for tours, you can catch a glimpse from the road—and it’s a fun reminder that Newport’s tradition of wealth and prestige continues into modern times. 📝 Final Thoughts If you’re even remotely interested in architecture, history, or the drama of high society, you’ll be blown away by The Breakers. Add in the nearby mansions, filming locations, and a dash of celebrity trivia, and you’ve got the perfect Newport day. Highly recommend asking for Rob as your tour guide—his passion and storytelling took the experience to another level. He also gives you tips for restaurants to eat at and other local secrets!

Very much worth the visit. The society does a lot to make sure the mansions are easy to access and also provide resources to guide the sightseeing and make the experience worthwhile. I only had time to do the Vanderbilt tour - The Breakers which are the pictures I am attaching here. Will recommend doing all tours over a weekend trip!

These mansions really are quite breathtaking. The amount of intricate detail in their design are really quite fascinating. Pictures really don't do it Justice, it's one of those you have to see things. While they don't provide audio devices, you can simply scan the provided barcode before entering the mansion on your phone and be able to walk through each room at your own pace and learn a great deal about how they used to live in those times. To me this is even easier. I do feel like you're missing out on the experience if you don't listen. Overall fun experience. Go ahead and feel like royalty even if for just an hour 👍

These homes were absolutely stunning and is a must see if in Newport Rhode Island. Priced well only $34 to see two of the homes and to be able to take as long as you like touring the homes and the grounds. It’s also a place to see some rooms that they are filming the new show the Gilded Age.

It was a dream come true to finally be able to explore the mansions along the cliff walk. The guided and audio tours were fascinating. I hope to return soon.

Visited the Breakers for the holiday today with my husband who is disabled. The staff/docents could not have been more wonderful and helpful. I thank you all.

Lovely mansions. Only two out ten were open to visit during our visit in November.