The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island was the “summer cottage” of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Fire destroyed the original cottage, and Cornelius ordered the existing mansion built on the same site in 1893. It took several years, and Cornelius didn’t spend much time in his new mansion before he died in 1899.
The mansion overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and it takes it name from the waves pounding the cliff below—The Breakers.
In a word—it’s impressive. It’s full of marble, beautiful wallpapers and furnishings. The marble bath tubs are something to be seen (evidently, the servants had to fill the tub to warm the marble, then refill it for their master’s use). The butler’s pantry and the kitchens were the best I’ve ever seen. My photos don’t do them justice.
My husband wasn’t keen when I dragged him off for his daily dose of culture, but he enjoyed The Breakers and later thanked me. Of course, it didn’t hurt that we visited the White Horse Inn for drinks and a snack—reputably America’s oldest inn since it opened in 1673.
I highly recommend a visit to The Breakers and the White Horse Inn, should you ever find yourself in Newport.
This is me at the front of The Breakers.
This photo is taken in the ballroom, looking toward the grand staircase. It’s said that it was a tradition for the Vanderbilts and their guests to slide down the bannisters on trays.
One of the many decadently decorated rooms.
Another room interior.
Mr. Vanderbilt’s room.
The amazing marble bath that required filling twice so that the marble heated and didn’t freeze a backside!
The kitchen was amazing and full of all sorts of mod-cons for the time.
A view of The Breakers from the side.
Hubby at the White Horse Inn. Our last bit of “culture” for the day and a welcome break with local beer and a bowl of clam chowder.
Wow, the inside pictures are so gorgeous.
Yes, it’s just so over the top in some of the rooms. It’s hard to imagine living there.