Newport has coastlines on its west, south, and east borders and thus is noted as a maritime community. It has hosted many America's Cup yachting races, and in 1895 hosted the first U. S. Open as well as the first U. S. Amateur Golf Tournament. But it is perhaps best known for the mansions built by some of America's wealthiest citizens during the Gilded Age (1865 -1901) exemplifying extravagant displays of wealth and excess by America's upper-class.
Breakers is the mansion of the Vanderbilt family. It is built as an Italian Renaissance- style palazzo with 70 rooms and had a staff of 40. No photos were allowed to be taken in the house, which was ornate beyond description with marble and gold gilding and wood abounding. It is the largest and most lavish of all the mansions, befitting its owner, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built the family fortune of $100 million (in 1870s money) in steamships and the New York Central Railroad. His son doubled that figure in seven years and decreed he'd not saddle his progeny with the demands accompanying such wealth, so he sold off his holdings to J.P. Morgan. His family then proceeded to spend their inheritances, with extravagant mansions as one of the expenditures (i.e. Breakers, Biltmore, and Marble House.) Here's the exterior of the Breakers which occupies a magnificent piece of property with the ocean cliff as its backyard...
The second tour was of the Italianate-style villa Chateau-sur-Mer which was the most palatial residence in Newport from its completion in 1852 until the appearance of the Vanderbilt houses in the 1880s-90s. Its owner, China trade merchant William Shepard Wetmore, used its grand scale and lavish parties to usher in the Gilded Age of Newport. No photos were allowed in this home either, so here's the exterior...
The final tour was of John Jacob Astor's Beechwood mansion. This is not part of the Preservation society and photos were allowed inside. Also, the tours are conducted by actors portraying Astor and various servants who speak to you as if it were 1891 as they conduct you around the house. Below is the exterior...
...and here is a photo of the ballroom which was modeled after Versailles...
Another holding of the Preservation Society is "Green Animals" a few miles down the road from Newport in Portsmouth. It was the small country estate of Thomas Brayton with 80 pieces of topiary throughout the gardens, including 21 animals and birds in addition to geometric figures and ornamental designs, sculpted from California privet, yew, and English boxwood. Green Animals is the oldest and most northern topiary garden in the United States. Mr. Brayton's daughter Alice gave the estate its name because of the profusion of "green animals."
The famous Cliff Walk runs 3.5 miles behind 64 homes including several of the mansions and should also be on your list of things to see when in Newport...
Most of the mansions (11) are under the auspices of the Preservation Society of Newport County and info can be found on their site.
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