Operating Schedule
See which of the mansions are open and when. Search by date or month, or view the full year’s schedule.
Visitor Info
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Tours, Groups, Exclusive Experiences
Explore our various tour types to find what’s best for you and your group.
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 is appealing 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.
The Gilded Age was a period of rapid growth, diversification and urbanization in America. The vacationing habits of Americans were no exception. Americans in this era vacationed in a growing number of northeastern summer playgrounds, from the Adirondacks to Coney Island, from Martha’s Vineyard to the Catskills, and from Saratoga to Newport. This lecture will explore the many and diverse summer holidays of the American Gilded Age.
Will B. Mackintosh’s book Selling the Sights: The Invention of the Tourist in America, will be available for purchase at the reception and the author will be available for a book signing.
Event thumbnail photo credit: “Bathers at Cottage City, Martha’s Vineyard,” c. 1890. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division.
Will B. Mackintosh is a cultural and social historian of the 19th-century United States, with particular interests in the history of leisure, the history of crime, and the cultural history of capitalism. He is author of “Selling the Sights: The Invention of the Tourist in American Culture” (NYU Press, 2019) and editor of “The Panorama, Extensive Views from The Journal of the Early Republic.” He is currently working on a new project dealing with the Loomis Gang, a group of horse thieves in 19th-century New York. Mackintosh is an Associate Professor of History at University of Mary Washington in Virginia.
“Bathers at Cottage City, Martha's Vineyard,” c. 1890. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division.
“Adirondacks, N.Y., fishing,” c. 1890. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division.
“Broadway, looking south, Saratoga, N.Y.,” c. 1904. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division.
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.
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.
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.
Follow the history and conservation research on the Ladies Reception Room at The Breakers, a highly significant but often overlooked space. This program will also be offered on April 9.
Join Historic Music of Newport's Gilded Age Orchestra as we celebrate the diverse musical history of Newport and the Gilded Age.
This illuminating tour examines select artworks of the ‘idealized’ portrayal and real-life expectations of Gilded Age women throughout The Elms.
SOLD OUT
Newport County residents, be our guests! The Preservation Society invites you to visit our open houses and properties for free on these dates.
Learn about the preservation work and research taking place on The Breakers third floor from Chief Conservator Patricia Miller and Textile Conservator Heather Hodge.
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. SOLD OUT for March 13. This program will also be offered on April 10.
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. SOLD OUT for March 20. This program will also be offered on April 18.
The guided tour of Marble House will illuminate the French influences that architect Richard Morris Hunt incorporated throughout the mansion.
Enjoy a rare behind-the-scenes look at our conservation studio and the important work that happens there.
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.
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.
Follow the history and conservation research on the Ladies Reception Room at The Breakers, a highly significant but often overlooked space. This program will be offered on March 6 & April 9.
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 be offered on February 6 (sold out), March 13 (sold out) & April 10.
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 be offered on March 20 (sold out) & April 18.
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.
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
