Newport Walking Tour: A Guide to the Opulent Homes of the Gilded Age

Hear the true stories that inspired the HBO show The Gilded Age on a walking tour down Bellevue Avenue, from Rough Point Mansion to The Breakers on Ochre Point Avenue. Along the way, I’ll share the juicy details behind Newport’s palatial ”summer cottages” as you gaze at their impressive designs. You’ll find out about the owners of these homes, many of them New York’s most elite families including the Vanderbilts and Astors. I’ll also introduce you to the architects who designed them and the staff that kept these homes running despite harsh working conditions and low pay. You’ll hear about the impact that the sinking of Titanic had on the owners of the Miramar Mansion, and how it took 36 staff members to look after Mable House, a holiday home used for only eight weeks of the year. On this Newport tour, you can also look forward to: • Seeing Clarendon Court, home to the scandal that inspired the 1990 movie The Reversal of Fortune movie • Learning about Caroline Astor’s Beechwood home, which played its part in Newport’s transformation into an infamous resort town • Taking in Rosecliff where a number of films have been shot, including the 2013 Great Gatsby • Finding out about Newport’s Cliff Walk and 40 Steps, a gathering place for staff • Discovering why the entire first floor of Belcourt belonged to the horses This hour-long stroll takes you behind the scenes to discover the personalities that built today’s Newport.

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