Rosecliff
Built 1902
Rosecliff was built for silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs, who used it to host many fabulous Gilded Age entertainments. Architect Stanford White modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles.
Things to Do
Rosecliff Audio Tour
Daily
opening hours
As you explore this elegant Gilded Age mansion, you’ll hear stories about its owner, Tessie Oelrichs, who was so eager to throw her first party at Rosecliff that she did not wait until the house was finished! You’ll learn how Rosecliff was perfectly designed for entertaining – and how the famous Ballroom, the largest in Newport, was once used as a roller skating rink.
History
With its celebrated heart-shaped grand staircase and the largest ballroom in Newport, this elegant mansion overlooking the Atlantic Ocean recalls lost Gilded Age summers filled with extravagant parties like the one featured in 1974’s The Great Gatsby, which included several scenes filmed at Rosecliff.
Learn more about Rosecliff
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Original Builder
Theresa Fair Oelrichs
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Construction Dates
1899-1902
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Ownership transferred to the Preservation Society
1971
Upcoming Events
Newport through a New Lens: Treasures of Photography at the Preservation Society
March 27, 2025
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Curator of Collections Dr. Nicole Williams will offer a close look at rarely seen treasures of Gilded Age photography from the Preservation Society’s archives. Live at Rosecliff and via Zoom.
Waltz into the Past
March 28, 2025
6:00pm – 8:30pm
Learn to waltz from professional instructors in the perfect Gilded Age setting of Rosecliff's ballroom.
SOLD OUT
The Newport Piccolo Simposio: Italian Influence in Newport
April 3, 2025
8:30am – 4:00pm
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.
SOLD OUT for in-person attendance. Registration for remote virtual attendance is still available.
The Newport Flower Show: “A Floral Fair”
June 20 – 22, 2025
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.
