Newport's Opulent Gilded Age Homes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Overview

Hear the true stories that inspired the HBO show The Gilded Age on a self-guided 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. This hour-long stroll takes you behind the scenes to discover the personalities that built today’s Newport.