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
View our FAQs, parking information, guidelines and more.
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.
Produced in partnership with the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. Exhibition was open March 15 – June 30, 2024.
The story of Newport, Rhode Island in the Gilded Age (1865-1915) is anchored by the economic, social and civic achievements of many of America’s wealthiest individuals and families, notably the Vanderbilts, Astors, Belmonts, Oelrichses and Berwinds. These names represent the critical economic and cultural growth period of late 19th- and early 20th-century America.
Newport also was home to many important African heritage business entrepreneurs who would leverage their commercial enterprises to promote economic security and build wealth to invest in and advance civic, recreational, social and political interests. Newport’s earliest African heritage doctors, dentists, teachers, hospitality entrepreneurs and elected officials appeared during the Gilded Age.
This exhibition explores a largely unknown but important chapter in American history in which African heritage families could come together and promote their economic and social well-being through self-reliance, entrepreneurism, political advancement and cultural interchange.
More than 150 objects from the collections of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, The Preservation Society of Newport County and other institutions will be featured, ranging from photographs, handbills, business cards and news clippings to furniture, clothing, jewelry and ceramics. All represent the experiences of African heritage Newporters who were active members of a new type of urban setting – the resort community. Men, women and families would travel to Newport from Providence, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington to take part in a rare opportunity for persons of color at the time to engage in uninhibited social and cultural interchange.
This exhibition is proudly titled: “Gilded Age Newport in Color.”
George N. Barclay children of Newport, circa 1913
Louisa Van Horne was the first teacher of color in Newport public schools. She taught at the former Edward Farewell Street School.
Newport was a place to participate in the era’s fastest-growing sports and recreational activities, and this included many African heritage sporting clubs.
Equal Rights Ticket for the 1888 elections in Rhode Island
The George T. Downing Block, circa 1905
Officers of the Women's League of Newport, circa 1900
Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time.
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 returns when The Elms reopens November 22.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.
Explore The Breakers from top-to-bottom with one of our expert tour guides. Members will experience all three of our offered tours at The Breakers, all rolled into one. Offered on select dates.
SOLD OUT
Founded in 1993, the Newport Symposium is 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.
This musical program led by Historic Music of Newport founder Dr. Mark A. Stickney will feature historic songs associated with Newport, spanning from the Civil War era through the Gilded Age.
This outdoor spectacle of holiday lights will dazzle and delight you! The 13-acre landscape of The Breakers turns into a wonderland of color and light. Includes tour of the lavishly decorated rooms inside the house. Open on select evenings through the season. Includes access to The Breakers interior during the same visit.
A great Newport tradition! See the magnificent mansions of the Gilded Age dressed in their festive holiday finery. It’s the most spectacular time of the year at these awe-inspiring historic houses.
Learn how the magic of holiday decorating comes together at Newport's largest and most popular mansion. Tour will be offered on Thursdays, December 4, December 11 and December 18.
Looking for something new to put on your door this holiday season? The Preservation Society's Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop returns with plenty of unique ideas.
Members attending Sparkling Lights on this evening will be able to take advantage of special giveaways and activities!
This program will guide you through designing a paper floral arrangement to fit perfectly into your home for the holidays.
Join us for this annual tradition of celebrating the holidays with our members.
Join us at The Breakers for this exclusive, one-night-only event featuring Skylark’s acclaimed musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, narrated by Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actress Christine Baranski.
This elegant gala is set in Newport's grandest mansion dressed in its holiday finest. Tickets on sale now.
"Pearls of Newport" is the perfect theme for the 30th anniversary Newport Flower Show, celebrating the city's coastal identity and maritime history.
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
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
