The Breakers Mansion
Newport's ultimate "summer cottage"
The Breakers mansion is the crown jewel of Newport Rhode Island mansions. It was the first mansion I saw growing up, and is the most popular attraction in the entire state of Rhode Island (300,000 visitors annually).
The Breakers is tucked away on Ochre Point Avenue, just a short distance from most of the other Newport mansions on Bellevue Avenue. It is less than half a mile from Ochre Court, another mansion that is now part of Salve Regina University.
Built in just two years (1893-1895) at a cost of over 7 million dollars (equivalent to over $150 million today), this National Historic Landmark was the summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II.
Mr. Vanderbilt was the President and Chairman of the New York Central Railroad, and was the grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. The Commodore made the family fortune in the steamship and railroad industries.
The Breakers mansion was given its name for the waves that continually crash into the cliffs below. You can see the mansion from the Cliff Walk (another must-see Newport attraction), Newport's 3.5 mile long scenic trail.
Breakers Facts
- 13 acre estate on the east side of Aquidneck Island
- Overlooks the Atlantic Ocean
- Designed by Richard Morris Hunt
- Decorated with both French and Italian fashions
- The Gold Room, and others were built in Europe, shipped to the U.S. and re-assembled in place in Newport
- There are 70 rooms in the mansion (33 for the help)
- The central Great Hall has 45 foot high ceilings
- Owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County since 1972
- Cornelius Vanderbilt II's great-grandchildren still live on the third floor of the mansion (closed to visitors) during the summer
An adult admission is $18, children 6-17 is $4.50 and children under 6 enter for free.
Tours start on the half hour, and you can either follow a tour guide or you can pace yourself with an audio tour.
These audio tours are cool, because you can listen to detailed personal accounts of the residents and servants. The Breakers is now offering its newest audio tour, "The Breakers Revealed".
Remember...no strollers allowed, and no photos or videos inside the mansion.
Take as many as you want outside, and feel free to share them and any stories of your adventures with us! We love to hear about other people's experiences in our beautiful city, especially trips to the Newport RI mansions.
44 Ochre Point Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
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