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 has appealed 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.
With award-winning artist Bill Lane
This day-long workshop will provide a unique opportunity to paint at an iconic mansion in Newport. Intermediate and above watercolor painters will gain valuable instruction from accomplished artist, Bill Lane.
Bill will start with an on-site demo, reviewing equipment, talking about the chosen scene, planning the composition, and determining the values. After which (roughly 11:15 AM), you will head off to paint at a nearby location. Bill will provide individual attention throughout the day. The day will conclude with an informal critique led by Bill at 3:00 PM.
Admission to Marble House is included for those who would like to take a break during the day to visit the interior. Please note that no artist materials will be permitted inside Marble House.
Bill Lane
“Everyday scenes intrigue me the most; be it a barren landscape, boats in the harbor or city life on a busy day. I observe how the light plays into the scene and reflects off the subjects. I work to capture that light while enhancing my point-of-interest in the painting.” Memberships: Providence Art Club, exhibiting artist member; New England Watercolor Society, signature artist member; Rhode Island Watercolor Society, signature artist member; Rockport Art Association & Museum, exhibiting artist member; American Watercolor Society, associate member; National Watercolor Society, associate member Awards Best in Show • 2016 Spring Bull Gallery “All Things Newport County”: Breakers • 2012 Bristol Art Museum “Sailing on the Bay” Frostbitten First Place Award • 2024 Spring Bull Gallery “Ocean Rhythms” Ocean Drive Glow - watercolor • 2020 RIWS Member Show, Hoppin Hill Farmhouse • 2019 RIWS Member Show, Allen's Rush Hour • 2017 Arnold Mills Community House, Walking the Dog • 2015 Cecil Byrne Gallery “Sand, Sea & Sky,” Walking the Dog Website www.billlanewatercolors.com
Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time. Tour times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
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 times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
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. Tour times may vary. See the event webpage for details.
Learn how conservation brings history into sharper focus, and discover how our conservation team brings the stories of these remarkable objects to life and ensures they are shared with new generations.
Join us for special silhouette portrait sessions, honoring a traditional art form that flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries — at the very moment the United States was taking shape.
Enjoy an evening of fanciful fun inspired by Alva Vanderbilt’s 1883 costume ball!
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. Offered Tuesdays and Fridays only.
For those who prefer a guided tour over an audio tour, learn the history behind The Elms gardens and grounds with Jim Donahue, Curator of Historic Landscapes.
SOLD OUT
Join Jeffrey Curtis, the Preservation Society's Director of Gardens & Landscapes, to learn about the many species of trees on the grounds of Chepstow.
"Pearls of Newport" is the perfect theme for the 30th anniversary Newport Flower Show, celebrating the city's coastal identity and maritime history. Tickets now on sale.
Immerse yourself with our upcoming play: “Loyalty or Liberty,” which highlights the difficult choices faced by many during the American Revolution and explores themes of freedom, honor, duty, and love in times of uncertainty. Offered Tuesdays & Saturdays.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of dinner and dancing to celebrate Summer in Newport.
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. Tickets to go on sale May 6, 2026
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
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 together to network and discuss the future of our history.
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
PAPER Professional, 100% cotton watercolor paper. I use Arches and Saunders 300# mostly Rough but sometimes Cold Press. 140# is fine but always use a good sheet of 100% cotton watercolor paper – no junk! You’ll never learn to paint watercolors on cheap paper, trust me! And painting outside has enough challenges without fighting your paper too!! Watercolor “blocks” are fine too, and they give you a rigid surface to use on an easel. MY PALETTE
BRUSHES
MISCELLANEOUS
FOR PLEIN AIR PAINTING
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