Operating Schedule
See which of the mansions are open and when. Search by date or month, or view the full year’s schedule.
Guest Information
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Tours, Groups, Exclusive Experiences
Explore our various tour types to find what’s best for you and your group.
Accessibility
See specific information about access at each house and property.
History of Newport and the Mansions
Founded in 1639, Newport was an important port city, a center of the slave trade, a fashionable resort and the summer home of the Gilded Age rich.
What was the Gilded Age?
The Gilded Age was a period of unprecedented change in America. Fortunes were spent on luxuries such as the lavish "summer cottages" of Newport.
Deep Dive into the Show
Learn about the people, places and events depicted in Julian Fellowes' popular historical drama series.
“Inside the Newport Mansions” Gilded Age Conversations
Noted historians and authors share their insights into all aspects of Gilded Age America in this monthly series of interviews with the Preservation Society.
Become a Member
We invite you to become a member of the Preservation Society today.
Premium Memberships
We invite you to join these exclusive levels of membership for patrons interested in enhanced access and benefits at the Preservation Society.
Current Members
As a member, you can enjoy unlimited general admission to our properties and do not need tickets. Simply bring your membership card for admission.
Membership FAQs
Membership gives you free, unlimited access to regular guided and audio tours at all Newport Mansions properties.
About Us
Our mission is to protect, preserve, and present the best of Newport County's architectural heritage. Learn more about us and our work.
Wind Farm Federal Appeal: FAQs
The Preservation Society of Newport County has appealed federal agency approval of two massive wind farms off the Rhode Island coast.
Personal Photography on the Grounds
Rent our museums for commercial photography & videography, TV production, and wedding photography.
Commercial Filming or Photography
Museum Rentals & Weddings
Host your wedding, rehearsal dinner, corporate event, or other celebration at our historic museums.
Fans of HBO’s “The Gilded Age” will love this guide-led tour of locations in the Newport Mansions where the Emmy-winning series was filmed. Your guide will share stories about the real-life people who lived in the mansions and inspired many of the characters in the show. And you’ll get the inside scoop on what it takes to host a major television production!
You’ll visit Marble House to see the Dining Room where Bertha Russell hosted a dinner for the Duke of Buckingham; Mr. Russell’s bedroom; the grand bedroom that was the inspiration for Bertha’s room; and the kitchen, which appeared as Mrs. Astor’s kitchen in her Newport home.
Then it’s on to The Breakers to see the Billiard Room, where Mr. Russell conducted ruthless business dealings, and the Russells’ ballroom where guests danced during Gladys’ debutante ball and Bertha had her first social triumph.
During your stop at Chateau-sur-Mer, the exterior of which appeared as Mrs. Astor’s cottage, you’ll see the distinctive Stair Hall with its “Tree of Life” mural; the Dining Room and Ballroom used for Mrs. Fish’s doll tea party; and several bedrooms that appear in the van Rhijn and Morris households.
Finally, you’ll visit The Elms, which did double duty as the Russell family’s Newport cottage as well as places in their New York mansion including Gladys Russell’s bedroom and the kitchen where the household staff works and gossips.
The Elms back lawn, Season 2/Episode 1 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)
The Elms Kitchen, Season 1/Episode 7 (Photograph by Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO)
The Elms first-floor Gallery, Season 2/Episode 2 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)
The Elms Ballroom, Season 2/Episode 5 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)
Marble House Dining Room, Season 2/Episode 5 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)
Chateau-sur-Mer, George Wetmore's bedroom, Season 1/Episode 3 (Photograph by Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO)
Chateau-sur-Mer, Stair Hall, Season 1/Episode 1 (Preservation Society photograph)
The Breakers Music Room, Season 1/Episode 9 (Photograph by Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO)
The Breakers Billiard Room, Season 1/Episode 2 (Preservation Society photograph)
“Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes chose the Newport Mansions to provide authentic scenery for his historical drama “The Gilded Age.” Explore the backstories behind each episode with our Deep Dive into the Show.
Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time. Tour times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
For the first time in the 130-year history of The Breakers, the private third-floor family space occupied by generations of Vanderbilts is open for public tours. Tour times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
See and hear how the other half lived. This tour will highlight the stories of some of the men and women who worked to service the social whirl of Newport during the Gilded Age. Tour times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
“Full Circle” revisits Newport's groundbreaking 1974 outdoor sculpture exhibition "Monumenta" through the work of Richard Fleischner, one of the last living participating artists, and his contemporaries.
Learn about our latest exhibition spotlighting Richard Fleischner’s work with a guided tour led by one of the primary collaborators on the exhibition. Offered on select dates.
SOLD OUT
Stop by Rosecliff and get creative—all ages and ability levels welcome. Learn a little piece of history and try your hand at being creative. Offered on select dates; see event webpage for details.
This program will guide you through designing a gorgeous paper peony bloom to fit perfectly into your home or be given as a gift.
Save the date for our annual Young Patron event!
"Pearls of Newport" is the perfect theme for the 30th anniversary Newport Flower Show, celebrating the city's coastal identity and maritime history. Tickets now available to members; on sale to general public April 8.
Three days of fun and educational seminars, tastings, dinners and the fan-favorite Sunday Brunch await you at Rosecliff! Tickets available in early July 2026
Founded in 1993, the Newport Symposium has been an annual convening of fine and decorative arts experts and enthusiasts from across the country and the world. Attendees listen to stimulating lectures, experience behind-the-scenes study opportunities and gather together to network and discuss the future of our history.
Download our tour app before your visit and bring your earbuds.
Parking is free onsite at all properties except for Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, where street parking is available.
Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Explore the 11 properties under the stewardship of the Preservation Society and open as historic house museums.
Partners in Preservation
