I think it’s time for a little travel, what do you say? Today, we find ourselves back in Newport, RI, touring another gorgeous mansion! Do you remember when we took a walk through The Rosecliff Mansion? It was the most romantic of the mansions we toured, and today we will be at The Breakers…the grandest of Newport’s summer “cottages”! It is a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America. Cornelius Vanderbilt II was the grandson of Commodore Vanderbilt who had established the family fortune in steamships and later in the New York Central Railroad. After Cornelius became Chairman and President of the New York Central Railroad system in 1885, he purchased a wooden house called The Breakers in Newport that same year. In 1893 after a fire destroyed the wood house he commissioned a new house to be built. The Breakers was completed in 1895. The design is based on Italian Renaissance villas. This house was their stage to receive the world, and foreign ambassadors and dignitaries came to enjoy the grandeur of this American mansion! Grab a cup of coffee…you are in for a “Gilded Age” treat!
I can’t imagine calling this a summer “cottage”. There are seventy rooms and more than three hundred windows. The house measures 138,300 square feet and only took two years to build and furnish.
The Great Hall was inspired by the open courtyards of Italy. But for all its opulence, the Breakers was always a family home. Generations of Vanderbilt grandchildren slid down the staircase and rode their tricycles around this Great Hall.
The interiors of the Breakers feature rare marble, alabaster, and gilded woods.
The staircase and sweeping arcades were inspired by the Great Opera House in Paris. The Vanderbilts hired the most famous architect of the day, Richard Morris Hunt, to create The Breakers.
The seventeenth century Flemish tapestry depicts a scene from the life of Alexander the Great.
The rich materials and ornament of the Dining Room were meant to dazzle. Twin chandeliers and twelve wall sconces sparkle with Baccarat crystal!
The rose colored stone columns are solid alabaster. Gold is everywhere – on doorways, on windows, up and down on every wall.
Fine European antiques furnish each room
The Music Room’s mirrors and the dozens of crystals that hang from the lights create an endless sparkling reflection.
The dark paneled walls of the Library offered an intimate and private space for family and friends to read or relax for afternoon tea. The stone fireplace came from a French chateau and is almost five hundred years old.
From floor to ceiling, the stone surfaces of the Billiard Room offered a cool retreat. This photo shows only the sitting area, for some unknown reason I did not get a photo of the billiard table. Each wall is covered in a single slab of Cipollino marble imported from Switzerland. The wall sconces are by Tiffany.
The detail and craftsmanship is remarkable! Every floor, wall, and ceiling is of the finest materials.
There are fifteen bedrooms for family and guests on the second and third floors of The Breakers. The rooms on the second floor are much more subdued than the grand rooms downstairs. All the rooms on the second floor were designed by Ogden Codman, who was known for his understated elegant style. This is Cornelius Vanderbilt’s bedroom. He only enjoyed one summer at The Breakers in good health. He suffered a stroke in 1896 and died in 1899.
Most summer houses in Newport had only one bathroom. This house has twenty. The bathtub was carved from a single block of marble. Notice that the faucet has four taps. Since this is a house by the sea, the extra two are for hot and cold running salt water. Bathing in salt water was considered good for your health at the time.
This was Gertrude Vanderbilt’s room. Her portrait over the bed was at age five. The Vanderbilt’s oldest daughter was nineteen the first summer she stayed at The Breakers.
The corner Guest Bedroom has green panels on the wall. The decoration of all the rooms on this floor were considered simple and spare for its time. Ogden Codman, a young Boston architect, was responsible. Codman based his look for The Breakers on the classic style of eighteenth century France with the soft ivory and cream colors.
Codman was discovered by the writer, Edith Wharton, who had a summer house in Newport and she introduced him to the Vanderbilt’s. After he completed his commission for The Breakers, Codman and Wharton published a book called “The Decoration of Houses” in 1897. It became the reference book for classical design in America and is still in print today.
The beautiful skylight is by John LaFarge, an American master of the art of stain glass.
The Kitchen was state of the art. The long work table is covered in zinc, the stainless steel of the day. Hanging above is a copper pot for every imaginable purpose.
The Breakers is a National Historic Landmark.
I loved touring this grand mansion and I certainly hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse into the lifestyles of the extremely wealthy of the “Gilded Age”!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Coastal Charm, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Katherines Corner, Share Your Cup, 21 Rosemary Lane, Love Of Home, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined, Celebrate & Decorate, Chatham Hill on the Lake
Oh my!…I have always wanted to tour this grand palace of a home!….Thanks so much for the wonderful tour and I think I shall take that magnificent bathtub! I wonder if my builder can find someone who can carve out a bathtub for me? Amazing! Oh the life of the rich and famous!
I think you should get Tom to find someone in Europe to craft this marble tub for you!
Unbelievable! I can’t imagine living in such grandeur, and how much staff must they have had to clean and maintain such a magnificent house! I’ve been watching Victoria this week, and my thoughts always turn to heating and A/C, How cold those large rooms must have been in winter! 4 taps! Bathing in salt water! Simply decorated! Wow! Thanks Pam-
Jenna
On top of that, Jenna they called it a summer cottage!
This is an amazing house. I’ve been there but it has been a long time and I didn’t remember the salt water taps. To live is this opulence is beyond amazing. I enjoyed your tour and commentary.
Thanks so much Bonnie, unbelievable luxury!
That is some cottage Pam!! Stunning and I love the idea of the grandchildren riding their tricycles around the Great Hall.
Joy, I really couldn’t imagine tricycles in that opulent Grand Hall!
Wow, what a stunning mansion! I can’t even fathom living in such grandeur. Such a gorgeous place. Thanks for taking me along on the tour. I hope you have a Happy Thursday!!!
Shannon, it was definitely grand and luxurious!
Wow and wow again! It pains me to think of maintaining all of that, but how beautiful it is! Thanks for sharing this lovely star! Happy Thursday! 🙂
Kim, can you imagine all the staff to run this in the early 20th century?
Amazing! I’m reading a series of mysteries by Alyssa Maxwell set in the Gilded Age at Newport and its famous “cottages”. Now I really want to visit!
Linda, I need to read that series, sounds so interesting!
I have visited and also loved touring the mansion. I didn’t take photos so thank you for sharing yours!
Debra, I am glad my photos refreshed your visit!
Debra, I am so glad that my pictures refreshed your memory of your visit!
Great tour Pam. This reminds me of the Biltmore house in Asheville which was built around the same time by George Vanderbilt and also designed by the same architect.
Yes, Pat it does. I have been to the Biltmore several times and love the Christmas night-time tour!
Incredible! I especially love the marble tub with four faucets. My family also believes salt water is “good for what ails you!” – But we just jump in the Gulf! Great photos!
Well at least you have the Gulf, a tub like this would cost a fortune!
Love the tour, Pam. Newport is one of my favorite places…you did The Breakers proud. 🙂
I am so glad you enjoyed, and thanks for joining me…Newport is beautiful!
Every room is just breath taking! I think that gorgeous fireplace is my favorite though. The color and details on it, are just stunning.
The fireplace was stunning, I agree, Christine!
Beautiful post. We visited The Breakers in October and loved every second. Thanks for refreshing my memories.
Judy, I am so glad you have seen the Breakers, it is definitely grand!
What a treat! Thank you so much for the photos and the history. I love the historic places and I write about the Vanderbilt’s Biltmore yet never knew they had a summer cottage! I want to visit it myself. That bathtub is the most exquisite piece I have ever seen.
About 15 years ago I took my mother on mother/daughter trip to Boston…two Southern Belles traveled North. We visited The Breakers then. Such a sweet memory of my mom who passed away a few months ago at age 87.
Roxanne, I am so sorry to read about your Mom’s passing away. But how wonderful that you made beautiful memories with her that will always be with you. My Mom has been gone almost ten years, there is never a day that I don’t miss her! Blessings~
And we thought Downton Abbey was elaborate! This is so very spectacular! I don’t know that I would ever feel at home in it but oh, how I would love to visit. (And yes, I’d feel very happy in that kitchen!)
Jeanie, can you believe these grand houses were called summer cottages?
Pam,
This tour is spectacular. Your photography creates a feeling of walking along the tour with you. Thank you for sharing with TADA. Keep the wonderful posts coming.
Happy travels,
Karen Marie
Thanks so much, Karen and for the TADA party!
Wow this is some cottage! Out of all the rooms the kitchen is my favorite.
Sandra, that center work table would be fabulous!
Oh, Lordy. I wish they would do a mini-series based in this house—that would be fabulous. Can you imagine servants trying to be quiet in all the sound bouncing marble. Drop a cup and the whole house would wake up.
Grins, your pics are fabulous—thanks so much for the tour, Sandi
Wowzer!! That’s some cottage!! That tub is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks Jann…Happy Weekend!