Top 5: Mansions to Visit in Newport, R.I.

Nobody knew how to do extravagant and opulent like Newport, R.I., during the turn of the 20^th century. The tiny town attracted America’s wealthiest during the Gilded Age, from the Vanderbilts to the Astors. All five of these “cottages” are on the National Register of Historic Places. A great way to see them all and experience the grandeur of Newport is to take the Cliff Walk.

The Marble House © Demerzel21 | Dreamstime

Marble House 

William Vanderbilt’s summer cottage is one of America’s great lasting tributes to the Industrial Revolution and the incredible disparity of wealth it produced. True to its name, Marble House contains 500,000 square feet of marble. It cost $11 million to build in the late 1880s.

Rosecliff

Silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs is the power behind this opulent throne. Rosecliff hosted some of the early 1900s most outrageous parties, at which Harry Houdini famously performed. Rosecliff has been used as the setting for various films, including — appropriately — The Great Gatsby.

Breakers Mansion © Demerzel21 | Dreamstime

The Breakers

Because one super-mansion summer house per family isn’t enough, William’s brother, Cornelius II, built the Marble House down the street. The 70-room mansion is palatial, designed in an Italian Renaissance-style palazzo.

The Elms

Coal baron Edward Julius Berwind wanted his mansion designed after the French chateau d’Asnieres. About $1.4 million dollars later, wish granted. Just as impressive as the building is Berwind’s collection of ceramics, paintings, jades and Classical Revival gardens.

Chateau-sur-Mer © Demerzel21 | Dreamstime

Chateau-sur-Mer

One of the original Newport mansions, Chateau-sur-Mer pre-dates the Vanderbilts’ arrival by nearly 40 years. It is built in a High Victorian style with matching furnishings, which were redone in an Empire French style during the second half of the 19^th century.