The 9 Best Mansions in Newport: 2024 List

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Newport, Rhode Island, is a treasure trove of American history, especially when it comes to the grand mansions that dot its landscape. These mansions are a testament to the opulence and grandeur of the Gilded Age, a period of rapid economic growth and social change in the United States. Let’s explore best mansions in Newport RI, delving into their history, architectural styles, ownership, and the fascinating stories behind them.

1. The Breakers- The Top of the Best Mansions in Newport

History

The Breakers was built as the summer residence for the Vanderbilt family, one of America’s wealthiest families during the Gilded Age. Completed in 1895, it was the largest and most opulent house in Newport at the time. Cornelius Vanderbilt II, the head of the family, commissioned the mansion after his previous Newport home was destroyed by fire. The Breakers served as a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence.

Description

The mansion is a marvel of Italian Renaissance architecture, designed by renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt. With 70 rooms spread across five floors, the mansion is a spectacle of opulence. The walls are covered in gold and platinum, and the mansion features a 45-foot high central Great Hall, which serves as the focal point of the house.It’s easy to see why this is the top of our list of best mansions in Newport.

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2. Marble House

History

Marble House was built between 1888 and 1892 for Alva and William Kissam Vanderbilt. Alva Vanderbilt was a leading figure in Newport society, and she envisioned Marble House as her “temple to the arts.” The mansion was a social landmark that transformed Newport from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses into a resort of opulent stone palaces. Alva later became a leading figure in the women’s suffrage movement and hosted rallies at Marble House.

Description

Designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, the mansion is a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts architecture. It features $7 million worth of marble, about 500,000 cubic feet. The mansion has 50 rooms, including a Chinese tea house in the garden. The Gold Room, a French-inspired salon, is one of the standout features of the house. All of this makes the Marble House second on our list of best mansions in Newport.

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3. The Elms

History

The Elms was constructed from 1899 to 1901 at a cost of approximately $1.5 million. It served as the summer residence for coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind and his wife, Herminie. The mansion was modeled after the Château d’Asnières in France and was intended to serve as a backdrop for the Berwinds’ extensive collection of Renaissance ceramics, 18th-century French and Venetian paintings, and Oriental jades.

Description

The mansion is third on our list of best mansions in Newport because it’s a stunning example of French chateau architecture, complete with ornate tapestries, gilded moldings, and a collection of fine arts. One of the first houses in Newport to be fully electrified, The Elms also features a sunken garden designed by C. H. Miller, which is a spectacle in itself.

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4. Rosecliff

History

Rosecliff was built in 1902 for businessman Hermann Oelrichs and his wife, Theresa Fair Oelrichs, a silver heiress. The mansion was inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles but was adapted to suit the Oelrichs’ lavish lifestyle. The couple used the mansion to host some of the most extravagant parties of the time, including a fairy-tale dinner and a party featuring famed magician Harry Houdini.

Description

Designed by architect Stanford White, Rosecliff is a masterpiece of Baroque and Baroque Revival architecture. The mansion is famous for its heart-shaped grand staircase, which is one of the most photographed in America. The ballroom is the largest in Newport and has been featured in several films, including the 1974 version of “The Great Gatsby”. It’s the only museum mansion on our list of best mansions in Newport that’s available for wedding and event rentals.

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5. Chateau-sur-Mer

History

Chateau-sur-Mer was one of the first grand Bellevue Avenue mansions and was the most palatial residence in Newport until the Vanderbilts arrived. Built for William Shepard Wetmore, a merchant in the China trade, the mansion was completed in 1852. Wetmore passed away in 1862, and the estate was inherited by his son, George Peabody Wetmore, who later became Governor of Rhode Island and a U.S. Senator.

Description

Designed in the High Victorian and Second Empire French styles, Chateau-sur-Mer is known for its grand scale and lavish parties. The mansion features a unique landscape tour, which includes a variety of exotic trees and a 19th-century greenhouse. This arguably has the most impressive land estate out of any of the locations on our list of best mansions in Newport.

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6. Kingscote

History

Built in 1839, Kingscote was one of the first summer “cottages” in Newport. The mansion was initially a Gothic Revival cottage for George Noble Jones, a southern plantation owner. During the Civil War, the Jones family sold the property, and it underwent several changes in ownership and architectural modifications over the years.

Description

Kingscote is a landmark of the Gothic Revival style, with intricate wooden carvings and Tiffany glass installations. The mansion marked the beginning of Newport’s “cottage boom,” setting the stage for the grand mansions that would follow.

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7. Isaac Bell House

History

Built in 1883, the Isaac Bell House is one of the best surviving examples of shingle-style architecture in the country. Commissioned by Isaac Bell, a wealthy cotton broker and investor, the mansion was designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White. The house marks a turning point in American architecture, blending various styles into a uniquely American design.

Description

The mansion’s architects drew from a mix of international and American influences, including Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles, to create a unique Gilded Age style. The house features a spacious veranda, intricate woodwork, and a variety of window shapes, adding to its eclectic charm.

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8. Ochre Court

History

Ochre Court was built between 1888 and 1892 for New York real estate magnate Ogden Goelet. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, the mansion was one of the grandest in America at the time. After Goelet’s death, his son gifted the property to the Religious Sisters of Mercy in 1947, who incorporated it into Salve Regina University.

Description

The mansion is a stunning example of Beaux-Arts architecture, featuring a grand staircase, intricate woodwork, and lavish interior decorations. It’s located right beside the Cliff Walk and, in our opinion, has the most impressive front out of any of the others on our list of the best mansions in Newport.

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9. Rough Point

History

Rough Point was originally rented by the Vanderbilts in 1894 and was later purchased by William B. Leeds, a business magnate. In 1922, the property was acquired by James Buchanan Duke, the founder of the American Tobacco Company. After his death, his daughter Doris Duke inherited the estate and used it as her Newport home.

Description

The mansion offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and is a treasure trove of fine and decorative arts and fashion collections. Doris Duke, an avid collector, filled the mansion with European antiques, Flemish tapestries, and Chinese porcelains, making it a museum in its own right.

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Wrap Up of the Best Mansions in Newport

Newport’s grand mansions are not just buildings; they are living museums that offer a glimpse into a bygone era of American history. Whether you’re a history buff, an architecture enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates beauty and grandeur, every location on our list of the best mansions in Newport has something to offer.