Operating Schedule
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Tours, Groups, Exclusive Experiences
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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.
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We invite you to become a member of the Preservation Society today. In addition to joining an active community of preservation supporters and advocates, members are offered unlimited access to all open houses.
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 is appealing federal agency approval of two massive wind farms off the Rhode Island coast.
Personal Photography on the Grounds
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This extravagant evening begins with cocktails on the terrace overlooking the scenic lawn that the Vanderbilt family and their guests so greatly enjoyed. Guests will then be invited into the Great Hall, an opulent space reserved for only the finest occasions – where presidents, aristocrats and European nobility once socialized – for a seated dinner and introductory remarks by society editor Daisy Prince. Following the main course, Lord Fellowes will engage in conversation with Preservation Society CEO & Executive Director Trudy Coxe. He will respond to select questions prior to the serving of dessert.
Julian Fellowes has had an extensive and distinguished career in film, television, publishing and the dramatic arts. He received an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2002 for “Gosford Park,” his first produced film, and he is the creator, sole writer and executive producer of the worldwide hit series, “Downton Abbey,” which received 69 Emmy Award nominations, winning 15, over its six seasons. He also received a Golden Globe Award and special BAFTA Award for “Downton Abbey.” The “Downton Abbey” movie written and produced by Fellowes was released in 2019. Most recently, the feature film “Downton Abbey: A New Era” written and produced by Fellowes was released in Spring 2022.
His other work includes “Separate Lies” for which he received the National Board of Review Directorial Debut Award, “From Time to Time” which he wrote and directed which won Best Picture at the Chicago Children’s Film Festival and Best Picture at the Fiuggi Family Festival in Rome, “The Young Victoria,” “Vanity Fair,” his Emmy Award-winning “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” and the BAFTA nominated “The Prince and The Pauper;” and three novels – “Belgravia,” “Snobs,” and “Past Imperfect” – that were Sunday Times Best Sellers. He is responsible for the “book” of the Broadway musicals “Mary Poppins” and “School of Rock – The Musical” for which he received a Tony nomination. In January 2011, he was given a peerage and entered the House of Lords as the Lord Fellowes of West Stafford.
The Preservation Society extends our sincere thanks to Lord Fellowes for his willingness and generosity to share this wonderful evening with us at The Breakers.
We invite guests to consider sponsorship opportunities, which begin at $15,000 for a table of ten. Standard tickets are $500 per person.
For information on sponsorships or donations to the Preservation Society, please reach out to Sarah Iwanski, Director of Development, at siwanski@newportmansions.org.
For information on tickets and event logistics, please reach out to Beverly Ware, Events Manager, at events@newportmansions.org.
Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time.
For the first time in the 129-year history of The Breakers, the private third-floor family space occupied by generations of Vanderbilts is open for public tours.
This series of programs, listed below, offers glimpses into the work that happens behind the scenes at the Newport Mansions, including curatorial, conservation, preservation, historical research and interpretation.
Learn how several of the historic Newport Mansions embrace modern technology with the use of geothermal climate-control systems, an environmentally sustainable solution.
SOLD OUT
This isn’t about baseball! We'll examine the complex lives of Edward J. Berwind’s butlers as labor activism took root during the Gilded Age.
Get an exclusive close-up look at two of the costumes worn in the 1974 film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby," guided by our textile conservator and one of our research fellows. This program will also be offered on Thursday, March 13, and Thursday, April 10.
Learn about ongoing preservation work throughout our properties with Director of Museum Affairs and Chief Curator Leslie Jones. Live at Rosecliff and via Zoom.
Treat yourself to a memorable day of cultural enrichment and architectural wonders in the heart of Boston. The itinerary invites members to explore the city’s hidden gems and iconic landmarks while connecting with fellow enthusiasts.
Enjoy a rare behind-the-scenes look at our conservation studio and the important work that happens there.This program will also be offered Thursday, March 27.
Beginning February 15. 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.
WinterFest is a weeklong celebration of the season, where families can gather to listen to a winter-themed story and create a take-home craft.
This illuminating tour examines select artworks of the ‘idealized’ portrayal and real-life expectations of Gilded Age women throughout The Elms. This program will also be offered on Friday, March 7.
Follow the history and conservation research on the Ladies Reception Room with Conservation Research Fellow Laura Bergemann. This program will also be offered on Wednesday, April 9.
Learn about the ongoing research into and conservation of the furniture on the third floor of The Breakers, which opened to the public for the first time last year.This program will also be offered on Friday, April 18.
The guided tour of Marble House will illuminate the French influences that architect Richard Morris Hunt incorporated throughout the mansion. This program will also be offered on Friday, April 25.
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 to network and discuss the future of our history.
Themed “A Floral Fair,” the 29th annual Show will combine the elegance of a Gilded Age fête with the good cheer of a summer county fair.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, guests and volunteers for another successful Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival. See you next year for the 20th annual festival, September 19-21, 2025, at Rosecliff. Become a Preservation Society member and receive early access to purchase 2025 tickets before they become available to the general public.
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.
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