Newport

Entering Newport...

Since Sean was underway for his birthday we decided we would celebrate it on another day and have an adventure.  For my birthday we went to Boston and did the Freedom Trail.  For Sean's birthday we went to Newport and saw five of the amazing, astounding, colossal palaces built during the Gilded Age (and they certainly called it gilded for a reason!).  Our first stop was the Breakers, built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II.  Here you see the gates letting in the worthy and keeping out the unwanted....

Here is the Breakers (named after the tops of

the waves that break right beside the mansion).

It is built near the cliffs so the view from this side of the mansion is just water.  Unfortunately, you can't take images of the inside, but from the outside you might get an idea that when I use the term "palatial" it applies to the in side in the grandest means.  Next, on our tour was Marble House, built by the brother of Cornelius Vanderbilt.  (Names like Morgan, Astor, and Vanterbilt are thrown around loosely in Newport as they all had their summer "cottages" here.  Yes, the breakers and all these amazing mansions were used for only two (that's right, two) months of the year!

This is Marble House.  If you can't tell from the outside, whatever Mrs. Vanderbilt wanted, Mrs. Vanderbilt received.  Imagine a ballroom filled every inch with 22 karat gold (on the walls, on the candelabras, on the seating, on the chandaliers) and you have an idea what it would be like.  Mrs. Vanderbilt idolized Louis XIV and her house is a tribute to him.  The "sun king" even appears as a large bust on the staircase.  Imagine spending millions (and millions) of dollars in the 1890s to build a house you used for only three years...

Here is the Chinese Pagoda.  It is on the front lawn of Marble House.  Mrs. Vanderbilt (Alva) wanted to be able to transport visitors to another time and place.  She even had a costumed ball with a Chinese theme where guests came in Chinese garb.  Alva was certainly not to be outdone by her guests, she wore the Hope Diamond on her headdress!  Apparently this was also a popular location for having tea. 

Now we travel a few houses over, past the Astors to visit, Rosecliff.

Rosecliff was originally the home of George Bancroft (of Naval Academy fame).  He grew roses on the property and is partly responsible for the American Rose, which is the national rose variety.  These roses lent their name to the property long after it was torn down to make way for the classical style mansion built on the property.

The mansion on the right is Chateau-sur-Mer.  It was one of the earlier mansions built in Newport.  You can tell the style is not the classical or Italianate of later mansions.  The first house built on the property dates from the 1850s, the son of the shipping magnate inherited the house in the 1870s and completely renovated the entire structure changing it to the Second Empire style you see today.  Unlike other families, they lived in this house year round and were locals of Newport. 

 Here is perhaps my favorite mansion we visited, The Elms. I thought the layout was classical and beautiful but not nearly as overdone as Marble House. Additionally, there is a beautiful sunken garden behind the property, so although unlike most of the mansions this one did not have a view of the ocean, it did have a very classical English feel.

And the culmination of the day, coming home and having Sean blow out the candles on his cake.  Happy Birthday Sean!