THE BREAKERS MANSION IN NEWPORT, RI

Newport, Rhode Island is famously known for its mansions previously owned by America’s wealthiest families like the Vanderbilts, the Berwinds, and the Wetmores. The mansions are named The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer, Kingscote, Isaac Bell House, Hunter House, and Chepstow. Today, they are owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County and some are open to the public for tours.

Whether you’re interested in the family history or viewing the rich decor, touring the mansions is a fascinating experience.

The Breakers is a designated National Historic Landmark and is the “grandest of Newport’s summer ‘cottages,'” according to the Preservation Society. It’s also “a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence in turn-of-the-century America.”

When I visited The Breakers at the end of May, I was impressed by the lavish chandeliers, gold and platinum leaf on the walls, and the paintings and sculptures that honored the Vanderbilt family’s history. It seemed like most of the detail was put into the first-floor rooms like the Great Hall, the dining room, and the music room; the bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen were not as fancy as I was expecting.

In the Dining Room, the Vanderbilts entertained Gilded Age society, an exclusive group known as “the 400.” The twin chandeliers and all 12 wall sconces sparkle with Baccarat crystal amongst the gold that covers the room.

Background of The Breakers

The Breakers was owned by the Vanderbilt family, whose fortune was established by Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt in steamships and the New York Central Railroad. When his son Cornelius Vanderbilt II became chairman and president of the New York Central Railroad in 1885, he purchased a wooden house in Newport called The Breakers.

After that house was destroyed by a fire in November 1892, Vanderbilt II commissioned an architect to design a villa to replace it. By 1895, the Vanderbilt family had a 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo built by an international team of craftsmen and artisans.

Cornelius Vanderbilt II married Alice Claypoole Gwynne and had seven children: Alice Gwynne, William Henry, Cornelius “Neily,” Gertrude, Alfred Gwynne, Reginald Claypoole, and Gladys Moore.

The family first stayed at The Breakers in the summer of 1895. The Preservation Society purchased the house in 1972.

The Music Room is a beautiful room where Cornelius Vanderbilt II played the violin and Alice Vanderbilt played the piano. The family would gather in the room and have musical concerts where everyone would play an instrument. Between the two chandeliers, you can see French musical terms inscribed on the ceiling – musique, melodie, harmonie, chant.

The Breakers by the Numbers

138,300 sq. ft building
13-acre grounds
70 rooms
15 bedrooms
20 bathrooms
300+ windows
750+ doorknobs
40 servants

When the Vanderbilt family spent their first summer at The Breakers, Gertrude was the oldest daughter, at 19 years old. She went on to marry Harry Payne Whitney and built a successful sculpting career, eventually founding the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.

The Morning Room faces east to catch the sunrise and has all four seasons depicted on the ceiling. The shimmering platinum-colored wall panels depict the muses – ancient Greek goddesses of learning and the arts.

Know before you Go!

Location:
44 Ochre Point Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
Hours:
Open daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Last admission is at 5 p.m.
Admission: $26
Two properties: $34*
*Includes Green Animals Topiary Garden
Parking: Free
Reservations: No reservations.
Tour: Self-guided.
Bring headphones and download the Newport Mansions app to access the free audio tour (it’s a must!). The audio really brings the tour to life; you’ll learn so much about the family, staff, and each individual room. Paper tour scripts are also available.
Photos & Videos: Both are allowed!
COVID-19 Protocols: Masks are required.

Happy touring!