The Breakers
The Vanderbilt family’s Italian Renaissance seaside palace, the pinnacle of Gilded Age mansions and Newport’s top must-see.
The Breakers was built between 1893 and 1895 as the summer villa of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt in the style of an Italian Renaissance palace, it has 70 rooms, a great hall rising 15 m high, and extensive use of marble, gilding and mosaics. The audio guide takes about 1 hour. The gardens face the Atlantic, and the Cliff Walk passes along the mansion’s seaside edge. It is managed by the Preservation Society of Newport County. Single-house tickets start at about $30, and multi-house passes are available. Online booking is recommended.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–17:00 (seasonal adjustments)