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.
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 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.
Moderated by Anne Thompson of NBC News
Join Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actor Sam Waterston for a conversation celebrating the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s beloved novel and its 1974 film adaptation. Moderated by award-winning NBC veteran journalist Anne Thompson, the conversation will delve into Waterston’s role as the story’s narrator, Nick Carraway, in the movie that was filmed partially at Rosecliff, Marble House and other Newport properties.
Guests will enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the oceanside terrace where Gatsby’s party guests reveled, then step into the magnificent ballroom where they danced the night away – all in the company of “Nick Carraway,” a little older, a lot wiser, and ready to share stories of those crazy days more than 50 years ago!
Step into the world of Gatsby and go behind the scenes for stories of the filming while considering how Fitzgerald’s tale continues to resonate across generations.
Photos above, from left:
Sam Waterston as Nick Carraway and Lois Chiles as Jordan Baker. RGR Collection/Alamy Stock Photo
Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan, Sam Waterston as Nick Carraway and Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby. Pictorial Press Ltd./Alamy Stock Photo
Sam Waterston as Nick Carraway and Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan. Paramount Pictures/RGR Collection/Alamy Stock Photo
Sam Waterston
An Emmy, a Golden Globe, a SAG award, and Oscar and Tony Award nominations are just a few of Sam Waterston’s many achievements in a long and prestigious career. He has been in some of the most memorable works of film, television and stage. Recently Waterston starred in the Emmy-winning limited series “The Dropout,” where he portrayed the polarizing figure George Shultz opposite Amanda Seyfried. Additionally, he was a lead opposite Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Martin Sheen on the Emmy-nominated Netflix Original series “Grace and Frankie,” which ran for seven seasons, making it the longest-running Netflix Original series. Waterston also co-starred alongside Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer in the Aaron Sorkin HBO series “The Newsroom.” He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the iconic “Law and Order” franchise, reprising his role earlier this year. Waterston started his career on the New York stage, appearing in multiple revivals of Shakespeare. His theater credits include “Indians,” “The Trial of the Catonsville Nine,” “A Doll’s House,” “Hamlet” and his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in Gerald Gutierrez’s “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” for which he received rave reviews and a Tony nomination. On the big screen, Waterston played Nick Carraway opposite Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in “The Great Gatsby.” Through his relationship with Woody Allen, he also starred in the Academy Award-nominated “Interiors,” “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “September.” Roland Joffe’s biographical drama film about the Khmer Rouge, “The Killing Fields,” earned Waterston an Academy Award nomination for his role as journalist Sydney Schanberg. Waterston has served as board chair of Oceana, the world’s largest ocean-focused NGO, and on the board of Refugees International.
Anne Thompson
Anne Thompson was named NBC News’ chief environmental affairs correspondent in 2007. Her reports appear across all platforms of NBC News including “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt,” “TODAY,” MSNBC and NBCNews.com. Thompson previously served as the chief financial correspondent reporting on financial and economic news for NBC News. In 2000, Thompson was NBC News' lead correspondent covering the presidential campaigns. Thompson first joined NBC News in 1997 as a national correspondent. In 2006, Thompson received the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award, and was part of the "NBC Nightly News" team that won the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Journalism Award and the Emmy Award for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. In 2004, she was awarded the Gerald Loeb Award for distinguished business and financial journalism for a series of reports that aired on "Nightly News" on the jobless economic recovery. She was also nominated for four business and financial news Emmys. Before joining NBC News, Thompson was a general-assignment reporter for WDIV-TV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit, since 1986. While at WDIV, Thompson was honored with seven Emmy Awards for a variety of stories. Raised and educated in Europe, Thompson received her high school diploma from the International School of Brussels in Belgium. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from University of Notre Dame, where she was elected as a member of the Board of Trustees in 2010. Thompson is on X at @annenbcnews.
Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time.June 1 - September 1, offered at 10 am & 2 pm
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. June 1 - September 1, offered at 10 am, 12 pm & 2 pm
Fans of HBO’s "The Gilded Age" will love this guide-led tour of locations in four of the Newport Mansions where Julian Fellowes' historical drama series was filmed. Fridays only, May 2 through June 27.
This exhibition examines the mind, ambition and legacy of America’s Dean of Architecture, who shaped Gilded Age America not only through the buildings he created – including The Breakers and Marble House – but also through his ideas.
Coinciding with our exhibition “Richard Morris Hunt: In a New Light,” this guide-led tour of Newport's Island Cemetery will focus on the great Gilded Age architect's impact and presence in this historic burying ground.
SOLD OUT
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.
Newport County residents and employees of the hospitality industry are invited to visit the Newport Mansions as our guests, along with many other attractions in Newport and Bristol Counties.
This summer’s Traveling Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Garden series provide families and children a fun and creative way to connect with the Preservation Society’s properties.
Back by popular demand! Create your very own "stained-glass" paper kite, inspired by the stained-glass skylight inside The Breakers! Kids will have a chance to fly their kite on the lawn and learn about the children who once lived there.
The Preservation Society's Summer Lecture Series celebrates "The Great Gatsby," "The Gilded Age," antiques collecting, conservation and research, and the great tradition of coaching. Individual lectures are listed below.
Learn about the important role of bees in the garden and take home your own BEE-utiful craft.
Kids collect all kinds of things! In honor of our current exhibition, “Richard Morris Hunt: In a New Light,” at Rosecliff, we will learn a little about collecting and then collect some of our own 'treasures” in the backyard.
Lark E. Mason Jr., former President of the Appraiser’s Association of America, shares how incredible works of art and craftsmanship are rediscovered.
Go green and learn all about composting! In this session, we will visit Green Animals' incredible compost pile, learn what to compost, how to use it, and make a take-home micro composter!
Learn about the preservation work and research taking place on The Breakers third floor from Chief Conservator Patricia Miller and Textile Conservator Heather Hodge.Registration available starting June 16.
Learn how a sod maze inspired by English country gardens came to be on the lawn at Chateau-sur-Mer. Walk the maze (we won’t get lost) and then design your own mini version of earthwork art.
Move and groove in the garden! Join us for an hour of movement and dance with an instructor from Newport Contemporary Ballet.
Two Preservation Society Fellows present results of their research during the past year, including the elaborate interiors designed by Jules Allard in our houses and the life, collection and influence of architect Richard Morris Hunt.
Have a tea party and learn about tea around the world, right next to the historic Chinese Tea House.
Come experience music for the whole family! Five wind instruments of Historic Music of Newport’s Gilded Age Orchestra will be introduced to the children and the sounds of ducks, cats and wolves will reverberate through the garden as a narrator tells Sergei Prokofiev’s story of "Peter and the Wolf."
Two Preservation Society Fellows present results of their work during the past year, including the A.H. Davenport furniture on the third floor of The Breakers and extensive research on the Preservation Society’s collections.
Learn what life was like for colonial kids at our colonial-era property. Since children in those times did not have TV or computers, they often had to make their own toys. Come try your hand at making colonial toys and pretend to live in the 1700s!
Our special guest for the annual John G. Winslow Lecture is acclaimed actress Christine Baranski, who will discuss HBO's "The Gilded Age" in which she co-stars, her connection to the real Gilded Age, as well as highlights from her career and her thoughts on the importance of the arts.
Tree education for kids! Learn about the different trees at Green Animals, how they grow and why they are important.
Learn about Hippodale the Papillon as well as different types of animals that lived in Newport during the Gilded Age. Please feel free to bring your favorite stuffed animal to join in the fun!
Learn what it takes to bring Newport’s tradition of Coaching Weekend to life and hear from a moderated panel of coaching experts as we kick off A Weekend of Coaching.
Kids practice becoming birders and learn about our local feathered friends, from cardinals to hummingbirds and sparrows to hawks.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of dinner and dancing to celebrate Coaching Weekend in Newport.
Did you know the design of Isaac Bell House was inspired partially by Japanese architecture? Join us for this interactive introduction to Japan.
Have you seen our unicorn topiary? Well, the unicorn's fairy friends need your help! We will create fairy homes and experience the garden with a sense of wonder.
Grab your clubs for an unforgettable day on the greens at the Preservation Society’s Annual Golf Outing at Newport National Golf Club in Middletown, R.I., a challenging links-style course with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Sakonnet Passage.
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
