Newport Mansions

    Last week, I visited Newport, Rhode Island for the first time. Newport, RI has many beautiful homes and was a popular summer vacation destination for many years since the 1700's. In the late 1800's, many mansions and summer homes were built in Newport that can now be toured. Many of these homes were designed after elements of castles from France. The homes include majestic stairwells, marble columns, larger than life ballrooms for hosting elegant dinner parties and balls, many beautiful statues and paintings, detailed ceilings, and all of them had electricity and plumbing when originally built before such things were standard in homes. The grounds are beautifully landscaped. Three of the mansions we visited had views of the ocean and were built on the cliff side including Marble House, Rose Cliff, and the Breakers. The Elms was my favorite mansion, but it was not built on the water. It makes up for it with beautifully landscaped grounds.

    I am happy that these mansions have been kept up over the years and people can visit these homes.  The homes we visited were part of the Preservation Society of Newport County.  It would be cool to travel back and time and see these homes as they were when they were in use.  I would love to see one of the balls that took place at these homes and see all the ladies dressed up in their best gowns that were specially made for the occasions and to see the staff at work. 

    The Newport mansions are a destination in "1,000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die."