Visited this and many other Newport Mansions as a teenager... 30 years ago. One of my favorite trips. Marble House was always my favorite. Even back then I thought the Breakers was "too much" and I would have "settled" for this house. Also remember visiting Rosecliff and the Elms, possibly my second favorite. There are a few others I know I missed run by the preservation society here (although maybe I did visit Chateau su Mer? Did I spell that right? The one with the insane woodwork throughout. Not sure if I was actually there or I just have it burned in memory from some of the picture books they sold at the time for all of these. This is a great family trip for a few days. Most of my family trips kinda sucked but I really enjoyed this one. I don't think it will break the bank either, but who knows, maybe it really expensive now to visit.
Absolutely stunning artistry and craftsmanship! A few of the rooms even managed to exude a kind of 'coziness' like the charming Ladies Library with its moveable staircase and children portraits. ....But the ostentatious ballroom and salon, the largest 'Gold Room' truly gave Louis XIVth at least a studied and very-gilded American Sun~King challenge, (if you will) to his 'rumored' opulence! 😉Each room was exquisitely unique and derived it's character from different historical time periods. I particularly liked the French Gothic Room with its mostly blue stained glass windows and its Medieval 'high-church' overtones ...replete with both angels and miniature sea-creature gargoyles peering from the ceiling. Calling this medium-sized marbled and gilded palace a "summer cottage" however, did make me giggle a bit. 🤭☺😉😆
Nice tour! I'd like to tour this one again someday. I don't think anything has been built like this in America before or since. This opulent palace cost almost as much as the Breakers and nearly TWICE what it cost to build Biltmore... just think about that. What it lacks in size it makes up for in substance. The marbles and gilding are shockingly opulent. If Faberge built a house this would be it.
Thanks. Nice to revisit this "little" cottage virtually this time! Suggestion: The camera movement in each room was way too fast. Suggest you still the camera and give our eyes a few seconds to focus and absorb each angle of the room before moving camera to it's next spot in a room. ( it was better in the kitchen downstairs ).
It’s a shame that our citizens’ wealth was given to undeserving foreigners instead of keeping it at home, all for the sake of a foreign title. By doing so, it temporarily shored up a wealthy societies that eventually needed more shoring up and finally collapsed under the realization that it is unable to pay for its indulgences down the road. I do appreciate the craftsmanship in these homes but the outrageousness overshadows it’s beauty.
The people and the newspapers at the time called these bankers, railroad and oil tycoons "Captains of Industry" when polite ...and "Robber Barons" when challenging their character and labor practices and appalling lack of safety records and their squelching of workers basic rights. Some may have been better than others, but some used the police and even the military to break up budding labor unions, (even resulting in the gunning down of innocent women and children in at least one incident)!! Not only was it called "The Gilded Age" ... but also "The Age of Conspicuous Consumption". Yet, if it makes you feel better, just imagine everyone in Heaven living in eternal Love, Wisdom, Grace & Beauty 💒🗽⛲👸 ...but deserved (if not earned?) 🤭☺😉😆
