Strap on your fanny packs because here we go…

Ochre Court

Ochre Court is the second largest of all the mansions, and I first mistook it for the Breakers.  It was built in 1892 for Ogden Goelet (whoever he was) and is now owned by Salve Regina University.  It’s their admissions center and the Running Man and I actually picked up an info packet so we could get a look inside.  I’m sure we fooled no one.  Oh well.

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Beechwood Mansion

This was the mansion that put Newport on the map as “THE” summer playplace of the uber-riche.  Built in 1851, and later acquired by the Astor family, which included the Mrs. Astor who created the first social register, it is one of the oldest of the homes and was the center of the social scene.

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The Breakers

The most famous of all the mansions and the definitive example of “Gilded Age” abundance, The Breakers was built between 1893 and 1895 for Cornelius Vanderbilt. The house has more than 65,000 square feet and required more than $150 million in today’s dollars to complete.  If you have time for only one home to tour, this is it.

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Rough Point

Rough Point was originally built for Frederick William Vanderbilt between 1887 and 1892.  In 1922, the home was sold to James Buchanan Duke (who created Duke Univeristy).  He died in 1925 and bequeathed the home to his 12-year-old daughter Doris.  Doris lived there part-time until her death in 1993, when she donated the home to the Newport Restoration Foundation.  A girl after my own heart, she acquired fine art and antiques for the home, but also bought her bedding at J.C. Penney, and that just makes her real and more likable in my book.

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I don’t even know the name of this one…

but I thought it was pretty and should be included.  It’s currently owned by Salve Regina University.

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Private Homes

Here’s  the Running Man’s and my all-time favorite home:

Sorry about the flagpoles, I had to finagle through the fence.  That’s elegant me…

Here’s another look…

Isn’t she gorgeous?  A view from the water.

Someone gets to live here.

That’s the Breakers looming behind these 2 huge homes, just to help you with scale.

I also thought this was pretty.

I don’t even need to see the rest of this house: with that many chimneys I know it’s incredible.

Thanks for walking along.

And thank the Lord for Wikipedia so I can sound like I know what I’m talking about.

My favorite thing about Newport is the Cliff Walk, a 3 mile trail along the ocean, directly in front of the most magnificent estates.

It amazes me that its even there.  Can you imagine the work to persuade all these residents to place a walkway right along their oceanfront?

Obviously the results are spectacular for all of us.

I can’t even imagine living here.

And then something I never expected to see…

Surfers!  In Rhode Island.

Right on dude.

Directly in front of the Breakers, the most famous of the mansions,

this was happening.

So you have the Gilded Age in all its refinement and glitz,

juxtaposed with an activity so, well,

Californian.  Laid back and heavy on the Dude.

The Vanderbilt descendants, who still summer at the Breakers (hidden on the 3rd floor away from all the tourists), have quite a show before them.

I wonder if it shocks them.

(I was kind of proud of this shot.  I’m not sure, however, why the horizon is off-kilter.  My apologies.)

More homes tomorrow.

Happy Day!