Touring Rosecliff; A Newport Mansion of the Gilded Age

 Evan reminded me that it has been awhile since we toured a Newport Mansion and we still haven't made it to them all yet.  With this visit to Rosecliff we have now seen 4 mansions: Rosecliff (obviously), The Elms (our Christmas trip in 2018 complete with decorations can be read here), The Breakers (a few times: here, & here for Christmas), and the Marble House (our first trip to the Newport Mansions in 2017 here). 

We picked a rainy day last week to head to into Newport and there was hardly anyone at the mansion. This was one of the smallest we've toured and it took us just under an hour to go through the whole thing. 


The salon

Rosecliff is known for their ballroom... and yet the only photo I snapped inside the ballroom was of this giant more than 6 foot chandelier! We spent most of the time gawking at the ceiling and trying to pick out individual images and pictures from it. 


The view from the ballroom out to the sea


The library/billiard room

the marble hallway

The dining room

The upstairs has been converted to an art gallery of sorts and has different exhibitions at different times. I didn't take any photos in the gallery but it was very interesting; a whole introspective on the influence of Chinese arts and artifacts in the gilded age which which also pointed out the juxtaposition of how Chinese immigrants were treated at the time.

The grand staircase

From the first floor it resembles a heart

We learned that women would shop for clothing twice a year; averaging what would cost in today's money about 1.2 million a year. 

To be taken seriously as a hostess during the summer season of the Gilded Age one would need to have a minimum of 6 dinner parties with 60+ guests, and 2 balls with upwards of 600 during the 10 week summer season.

To be able to afford the various events hosted as well as maintain their household the summer season would run around 7 million in today's currency!

The rose garden still had a few blooms even this close to winter

a close up of the front door detailing

While exiting through the giftshop I came across this fun looking murder mystery series of books set during the Gilded age and at the Newport mansions.  I just had to buy one and hope to read through them all!


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Comments

  1. Maria RineerDecember 18, 2023 at 5:24 AM

    What an amazing building! And so close to the ocean!! Does a foundation own it now? Or the city?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 18, 2023 at 7:44 AM

      All the Newport mansions are run and owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousDecember 18, 2023 at 5:42 AM

    Wow! That place looks incredible. I love touring mansions and thinking of what life used to be like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 18, 2023 at 5:43 AM

      This was Amy from Coffee and Cocktails, btw!

      Delete
    2. Joanne December 18, 2023 at 7:45 AM

      Oh me too; and I find that we learn something new at each house we visit.

      Delete
  3. Tamar SBDecember 18, 2023 at 5:57 AM

    These mansions are something else!! I still have never been to Newport, need to remedy that!

    ReplyDelete
  4. NatashaDecember 18, 2023 at 6:04 AM

    Now I have to add "tour a mansion" to my bucket list. I cannot imagine spending that much money on clothes and to host people. Crazy!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 18, 2023 at 7:45 AM

      And these were just their "summer cottages!"

      Delete
  5. Jennifer GoodwinDecember 18, 2023 at 6:34 AM

    I love doing tours like this! What a beautiful home and grounds!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 18, 2023 at 8:12 AM

      They really are stunning and I love that the tours are all self-guided now so you can really take your time.

      Delete
  6. HollyDecember 18, 2023 at 7:41 AM

    LOVE the Newport mansions- my faves are this one and the Marble House :) So fun to tour these around the holidays!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 18, 2023 at 1:02 PM

      It really is; even if this house was not one of the ones they decorate.

      Delete
  7. Dara @ Not In JerseyDecember 18, 2023 at 8:27 AM

    My kids want to go on a northeast road trip and I'm sure Newport would be on the list!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousDecember 18, 2023 at 9:44 AM

    I love Newport. So beautiful.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Linda JohnstonDecember 18, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    Going to Newport is on my list to visit! My interest was sparked by Alyssa Maxwell's mystery series. I have enjoyed each one of them. Thanks for shaing your visit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 18, 2023 at 1:03 PM

      I was so surprised I had not heard of that series before having toured so many of the mansions through the years.

      Delete
  10. Linda @ Life and LindaDecember 18, 2023 at 10:58 AM

    So gorgeous, how fun to see it in person. I love Newport. The stories that can be told. Thank you for sharing at Love Your Creativity. Merry Christmas.🎄

    ReplyDelete
  11. LyssyDecember 18, 2023 at 11:02 AM

    I loved visiting this mansion. I am excited The Gilded Age is back on tv!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 18, 2023 at 1:01 PM

      Yes! The ceiling at this house is actually featured in the opening credits of the show. I've started watching season 2; this tour was just what I needed to give me that nudge.

      Delete
  12. TomDecember 18, 2023 at 1:01 PM

    ...so this is how the millionaires lived years ago!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hena TayebDecember 18, 2023 at 3:27 PM

    So fancy!

    ReplyDelete
  14. CraftAtticResourcesDecember 18, 2023 at 3:58 PM

    Breakers is the only one I've had the chance to see. Thanks for sharing your trip.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jodie's Touch of StyleDecember 18, 2023 at 4:48 PM

    Wow, that's some amazing wardrobe you'd have to have for those parties. What a fun tour.
    XOXO
    Jodie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 19, 2023 at 10:06 AM

      Right?! I do remember hearing at one of the other house tours that they changed something crazy like 7 times a day.

      Delete
  16. MarshaDecember 18, 2023 at 7:57 PM

    What a stunning mansion! I had no idea the women of that era spent that kind of money. I knew fashion didn't change as rapidly, but it must have changed enough to warrant needing new clothes twice a year! And, that's just on clothing! I wonder what their yearly outgo was! Thanks for sharing these photos, Joanne!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 19, 2023 at 10:06 AM

      I wonder what they spent in a year too; it must be astronomical.

      Delete
  17. Andrea NineDecember 18, 2023 at 9:40 PM

    It’s stunning. Love the heart.

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousDecember 19, 2023 at 10:59 AM

    We did the Cliff Walk a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I have been wanting to go back and tour one of the homes. It's hard to imagine having one of those mansions and really only using it a few weeks of the year. Newport is such a lovely town. While there, I had a lobster panini that would be reason enough to visit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 21, 2023 at 4:54 AM

      We love the cliff walk! That lobster panini sounds delicious.

      Delete
  19. Lindsay's Sweet WorldDecember 23, 2023 at 10:25 AM

    Oh wow, this place is incredible! That staircase is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 23, 2023 at 4:14 PM

      The attention to detail was just incredible in all these mansions.

      Delete

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