Newport Mansions

Chateau-sur-Mer is a landmark of High Victorian architecture, furniture, wallpapers, ceramics and stenciling. It was the most palatial residence in Newport from its completion in 1852 until the appearance of the Vanderbilt houses in the 1890s. It was the scene of memorable entertainments, from the "Fete Champetre", an elaborate country picnic for over two thousand guests held in 1857, to the debutante ball for Miss Edith Wetmore in 1889.

An Italianate-style villa, Chepstow was built in 1860 by resident Newport architect George Champlin Mason as the Chepstow parloersummer residence of Edmund Schermerhorn. Acquired by Mrs. Emily Morris Gallatin in 1911, the estate continued in the Morris family until bequeathed in 1986 to the Preservation Society, with its collections intact and an endowment by Mrs. Alletta Morris McBean.

The Chinese Tea House is a Chinese-style pavilion which was built in 1914. The grounds around the Tea House are landscaped, and this event venue also provides a view of the ocean and Newport' s famous Cliff Walk. This facility works well for small events, accommodating up to 50 people for dinner (without dancing) or up to 75 for a reception.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 8 per
Capacity: 50 People

Reception
Capacity: 75 People

Amenities

Features

Hunter House is one of the finest examples of Georgian Colonial architecture from Newport's "golden age" in the mid-18th century. The house was built and decorated when Newport was a cosmopolitan city with a principle of religious tolerance that attracted Quakers, Baptists, Congregationalists and Sephardic Jews. The great mercantile families lived patrician lives, building harbor-front mansions overlooking their trading ships, and entertained in grand style. They bought furniture and silver from local craftsmen and were the patrons of such important early painters as Robert Feke and Gilbert Stuart.

The Isaac Bell House is one of the best surviving examples of shingle style architecture in the country. The house was designed by the firm of McKim, Mead and White in 1883 for Isaac Bell, a wealthy cotton broker and investor. After passing through a succession of owners, the Isaac Bell House was purchased by the Preservation Society in 1996, and is today designated a National Historic Landmark.

Kingscote is a landmark of the Gothic Revival style in American architecture. Its appearance in Newport marked the beginning of the "cottage boom" that would distinguish the town as a veritable laboratory for the design of picturesque houses throughout the 19th century.

Marble House is a mansion which was constructed in 1892. The facility gets its name from the 500,000 cubic feet of marble that it features. Inside, guests can enjoy the ballroom which is gilded in 22-karat gold leaf. The view from the terrace overlooks the Chinese Tea House and the ocean. 80 to 90 guests can be accomodated for a sit-down dinner in the ballroom with a dance floor. Without the dance floor, a dinner for 120 guests is possible. A reception or a dinner on the terrace without dancing can be held for 240 people.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 8 per
Capacity: 120 People

Reception
Capacity: 240 People

Amenities

Features

Rosecliff was built in 1902 and features Gilded Age architecture. This white mansion is often used for weddings because it contains the largest ballroom in Newport, along with a heart-shaped staircase. Space is available for small and large receptions, rehearsal dinners, the wedding itself, and photo opportunities. The ballroom can hold up to 220 guests for a dinner with a dance floor. Additional seating is available, along with an outdoor terrace with a view of the ocean. The terrace can host 300 guests for a reception, and dinner in the salon can be held for 80 people.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 8 per
Capacity: 220 People

Reception
Capacity: 300 People

Amenities

Features

• Special Features: The Rosecliff ballroom provides floor to ceiling windows with views of the ocean. An outdoor, covered terrace is available that overlooks the landscaped gardens.

The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America.

The Elms is a mansion which was built in 1901. The design of the mansion reveals a combination of French and Oriental influence. The house is made primarily of marble and granite, and the interior is furnished in a continental style. This facility can accomodate up to 120 guests for a sit-down dinner and about 100 to 200 guests for a reception.

Supported Layouts and Capacities

Banquet - 8 per
Capacity: 120 People

Reception
Capacity: 200 People

Amenities

Features