One of the best things to do when you’re visiting Newport Rhode Island is to visit The Newport Mansions. It’s by far one of the most amazing sights to see. I have been there quite a few times and every time I go, it just astounds me. Even if I been to that one mansion before, it still gives me a sense of awe.
Here is a little information about The Breakers. Of course, it’s not all of it because there is a ton of history about all the mansions, but I tried to offer you some little tidbits about The Vanderbilt’s summer cottage as they called it.
The Breakers was the summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II
It was built 1893 to 1895. The home has a total of 70 rooms. The architect was Richard Morris Hunt. The house itself covers over an acre of the 14 acre site. The Breakers was built in Renaissance Revival style. It has marble brought in from Italy and Africa and the wood in the mansion is from all around the world. Cornelius spared no expense on his summer home. It was at the height of the Gilded Age and when you walk into The Breakers it shows! The splendor is absolutely amazing!
Cornelius lived the summers at The Breakers with his wife Alice and their 7 children. He died in1899 at the age of 55 from a cerebral hemorrhage. Alice out lived him by 35 years and died in 1935. She left The Breakers to her youngest daughter Gladys who loved the home. Gladys in 1948 leased the mansion to the Newport Preservation Society for $1 and in 1972 The Preservation Society bought The Breakers for over $300.000 and allowed the Vanderbilt family live on the third floor which never was opened to the public, that lasted until 2018.
*All my information was found on
Wiki and also from the Newport Preservation Society.
Also, check out:
The Breakers by Deneen Azzolino – Part One
