What The Breakers and Newport mansions are
The Breakers is a 178-room mansion built in 1895 for Cornelius Vanderbilt II on the Rhode Island coast in Newport. It is the largest house in the United States and sits among dozens of other grand estates built by wealthy families between the 1870s and 1920s — a period known as the Gilded Age. These houses were built as summer residences, not primary homes, and many remain standing today as museums and historic sites.
Newport's mansion district contains roughly 450 historic buildings, with about 80 of the largest estates still visible from the street or open to visitors. The Breakers itself is operated by the Preservation Society of Newport County, a nonprofit that also manages ten other properties in the area. Most of these mansions are privately owned today, though several are open to the public for tours.
The architecture, furnishings, and grounds of these houses reflect the wealth and taste of America's richest families at a specific moment in history. They show how the very wealthy lived, what they valued, and how they spent money on construction and decoration. For that reason, they function as historical documents as much as buildings.
Key Takeaways
- The Breakers is the largest privately owned house in the United States and was built as a summer home for the Vanderbilt family in 1895.
- Newport contains dozens of Gilded Age mansions built between the 1870s and 1920s, most of which are privately owned but several are open to the public.
- The Preservation Society of Newport County operates The Breakers and ten other historic properties and offers guided and self-guided tours year-round.
- Mansion tours typically cost between $20 and $30 per person and last one to two hours, with discounts available for groups and combination tickets for multiple properties.
- The grounds and exterior of many mansions can be seen from public streets and walking paths without paying admission.
The Breakers: size, design, and what's inside
The Breakers contains 178 rooms across 70,000 square feet. The house was designed by the architectural firm Peabody, Stearns & Co. and modeled after the Château de Chenonceau in France. It took five years to build and cost approximately $7 million at the time — roughly $230 million in today's dollars, though that figure varies depending on the inflation measure used.
The interior includes a Great Hall that rises 45 feet, a dining room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling, a library with hand-painted walls, and a morning room with windows overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The house contains 43 bathrooms and 16 bedrooms. Most rooms are decorated with European art, tapestries, and furniture that the Vanderbilt family collected or commissioned. The kitchen, servants' quarters, and storage areas occupy much of the basement and lower floors — spaces that reveal how many people it took to run such a house.
The grounds include formal gardens, a carriage house, and a gatehouse. The property sits on roughly 14 acres and faces the ocean directly. The exterior is built of limestone and granite, with a roof of Spanish tile. The house was designed to withstand coastal weather, which is why it is named The Breakers — a reference to the ocean waves that break against the rocks below.
Other major Newport mansions open to visitors
The Preservation Society operates eleven properties total, including The Breakers. Rosecliff, built in 1902, contains 43 rooms and was designed to resemble the Grand Trianon at Versailles. Marble House, completed in 1892, is a 50-room mansion with a gold ballroom and was the first Newport house to use electricity throughout. Chateau-sur-Mer, built in 1852, is the oldest of the major mansions and shows the earlier Victorian style before the full Gilded Age aesthetic took hold.
Rough Point, a 105-room mansion built in 1888, is operated separately by the Newport Restoration Foundation and contains the art collection of Doris Duke, a tobacco heiress who lived there. The Elms, built in 1901, is modeled after the Château d'Asnières near Paris and contains 48 rooms. Kingscote, built in 1841, is smaller than the others but shows the evolution of Newport architecture over several decades.
Several other mansions remain private residences but can be viewed from the street or from the Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile public path that runs along the coastline and passes behind many of the estates. The Cliff Walk is free and open year-round, though sections occasionally close for maintenance.
Visiting The Breakers: hours, admission, and tour options
The Breakers is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from mid-April through early November, with reduced hours in spring and fall. Winter hours (early November through mid-April) are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the house closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is $27 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 17; children under 6 are free. Combination tickets that include multiple Preservation Society properties cost between $40 and $60 depending on which houses you choose.
The Breakers offers both self-guided and guided tours. Self-guided tours use a printed map and written descriptions in each room; most visitors spend 60 to 90 minutes this way. Guided tours are led by docents and last approximately two hours; these tours are included with admission and depart on a schedule posted at the entrance. Audio guides are available in English, French, Spanish, and German for an additional $5.
Parking is available on-site for $10 per vehicle, though street parking is sometimes available nearby. The house is not fully wheelchair accessible — the main floor and some upper floors can be reached, but not all rooms are accessible. Visitors should call ahead at 401-847-1000 to discuss specific accessibility needs.
When to visit and what to expect
Summer (June through August) is the busiest season, with crowds peaking in July and August. Wait times for entry can exceed 30 minutes on weekends, and the house can feel crowded during tours. Spring (May) and fall (September through October) offer smaller crowds and pleasant weather. Winter visits are quieter but the house is less decorated and some rooms may have reduced hours.
Most visitors spend two to three hours at The Breakers, including time waiting to enter, touring the house, and walking the grounds. The grounds themselves take 30 to 45 minutes to explore. Nearby restaurants and shops are within walking distance in downtown Newport, which is about a mile away. The Preservation Society operates a small gift shop inside The Breakers selling books, postcards, and merchandise related to the house and Newport history.
The house can be cold in winter and spring, so layered clothing is recommended. Photography is permitted in most rooms but not in some galleries with fragile artwork. Tripods and professional equipment require permission from the Preservation Society in advance.
The history behind Newport's mansions and the Vanderbilt family
Newport became a summer destination for wealthy New York families in the 1850s because of its ocean location and the railroad connection to New York City. By the 1870s, it had become the primary summer retreat for America's richest families. The Vanderbilt family, whose wealth came from railroads and shipping, built multiple properties in Newport. Cornelius Vanderbilt II, who commissioned The Breakers, was the railroad magnate's great-grandson and one of the wealthiest men in America at the time.
The Gilded Age (roughly 1870 to 1900) was a period of rapid industrialization and extreme wealth concentration in the United States. The mansions reflect that moment — they were built to display wealth, host large social events, and demonstrate the owner's taste and cultural refinement. Many were occupied only a few weeks per year, with large staffs of servants maintaining them year-round.
The Great Depression and changing tax laws in the 20th century made it difficult for families to maintain these houses. Many were sold, subdivided, or demolished. The Preservation Society was founded in 1945 to save the remaining mansions and open them to the public. Today, the organization relies on admission fees, donations, and grants to maintain the properties.
Getting to Newport and nearby attractions
Newport is located in Rhode Island, about 35 miles south of Providence and 180 miles south of Boston. By car from New York City, the drive is approximately four hours via Interstate 95 and Route 138. By car from Boston, the drive is approximately 90 minutes via Route 24 and Route 138. There is no direct train service to Newport, but Amtrak serves Providence, and rental cars or shuttle services are available from there.
The Newport area contains other historic sites beyond the mansions, including Fort Adams State Park, which overlooks the harbor and contains a Civil War-era fort. The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport and occupies a mansion called Sheldon Hall. The Preservation Society also operates Rough Point and several smaller historic houses. The Cliff Walk connects many of the mansion properties and provides ocean views throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take photos inside The Breakers?
Photography is permitted in most rooms of The Breakers, but not in certain galleries that contain fragile artwork or special exhibitions. Signs in those rooms indicate where photography is prohibited. Professional photography and videography require advance permission from the Preservation Society.
How long does a tour of The Breakers take?
A self-guided tour typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. A guided tour with a docent lasts approximately two hours. Most visitors also spend 30 to 45 minutes exploring the grounds, so plan for three to four hours total if you want to see everything.
Are children allowed, and is there anything for them to do?
Children are welcome at The Breakers. Children under 6 are free, and children 6 to 17 pay $8. The Preservation Society offers a family guide and scavenger hunt activity for children during the tour. Some families find the house interesting; others find it long and detailed for young children.
Can I visit the other Newport mansions in one day?
You can visit two or three mansions in one day if you spend one to two hours at each. Combination tickets are available for multiple properties. However, most visitors find that one mansion per day, combined with walking the Cliff Walk or exploring downtown Newport, makes for a full day.
Is The Breakers wheelchair accessible?
The main floor and some upper floors are accessible, but not all rooms are. Visitors with mobility concerns should call 401-847-1000 before visiting to discuss which areas they can reach. Accessible parking is available on-site.