596 Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI 02840

Marble House was built between 1888 and 1892 for Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, a summer house, or "cottage", as Newporters called them in remembrance of the modest houses of the early 19th century. But Marble House was much more; it was a social and architectural landmark that set the pace for Newport's subsequent transformation from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses to the legendary resort of opulent stone palaces.

Mr. Vanderbilt was the grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, who established the family's fortune in steamships and the New York Central Railroad. His older brother was Cornelius II, who built The Breakers. Alva Vanderbilt was a leading hostess in Newport society, and envisioned Marble House as her "temple to the arts" in America. It was designed by the architect Richard Morris Hunt, inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles. The cost of the house was reported in contemporary press accounts to be $11 million, of which $7 million was spent on 500,000 cubic feet of marble. Upon its completion, Mr. Vanderbilt gave the house to his wife as a 39th birthday present. The Vanderbilts had 3 children: Consuelo, who became the 9th Duchess of Marlborough; William K., Jr., a prominent figure in pioneering the sport of auto racing in America; and Harold, one of the finest yachtsmen of his era who successfully defended the America's Cup three times. The Vanderbilts divorced in 1895 and Alva married Oliver H.P. Belmont, moving down the street to Belcourt. After his death, she reopened Marble House, and had a Chinese Tea House built on the seaside cliffs, where she hosted rallies for women's right to vote. She sold the house to Frederick H. Prince in 1932. The Preservation Society acquired the house in 1963 from the Prince estate.  In 2006, Marble House was designated a National Historic Landmark

Operating Schedule
Newport Mansions Experience

The Newport Mansions Experience ticket provides admission to any 5 properties of your choice, excluding Hunter House.  

Choose from The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms, Marble House, Rosecliff, Green Animals, Kingscote, Chepstow and Isaac Bell House.

Important note:  Many properties are open only seasonally. Only 3 properties are open during the winter months. Please check operating schedule to determine which properties will be open when you plan to visit.


All tickets are non-refundable.

 


One Property

This ticket is good for admission to any one Preservation Society property, except The Breakers and Hunter House, subject to operating schedule.


All tickets are non-refundable.


The Breakers Plus

This ticket provides admission to The Breakers and one other Preservation Society property of your choice, excluding Hunter House.  


Please check our operating schedule for further details.


All tickets are non-refundable.


Wine & Food Festival: Connoisseur's Package with Saturday Grand Tasting

Get the most out of your weekend at the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival with the Connoisseur's Package.

This ticket includes admission to the Friday, September 24 Wine &  Rosecliff: Meet the Chefs celebration, the Saturday, September 25 Grand Tasting at Marble House, and one Newport Mansions tour of your choice.

Valid for Friday night and Saturday afternoon ONLY. 

Advance purchase by September 17, $250.  After September 17, $275.

Valet parking will be provided on Friday night at Rosecliff. 

Free parking will be available at Easton's Beach on Memorial Boulevard for Saturday's Grand Tasting, with free shuttle service to Marble House. No onsite parking at Marble House.

All attendees must be 21 or over.  No one under the age of 21 will be admitted.


Wine & Food Festival: Connoisseur's Package with Sunday Grand Tasting

Get the most out of your weekend at the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival with the Connoisseur's Package.

This ticket includes admission to the Friday, September 24 Wine &  Rosecliff: Meet the Chefs celebration, the Sunday, September 26 Grand Tasting at Marble House, and one Newport Mansions tour of your choice.

Valid for Friday night and Sunday afternoon ONLY. 

Advance purchase by September 17, $250.  After September 17, $275.

Valet parking will be provided on Friday night at Rosecliff. 

Free parking will be available at Easton's Beach on Memorial Boulevard for Sunday's Grand Tasting, with free shuttle service to Marble House. No onsite parking at Marble House.

All attendees must be 21 or over.  No one under the age of 21 will be admitted.


Wine & Food Festival: Grand Tasting, Saturday, September 25, 2010

The Grand Tasting takes place on the lawn of Marble House, with wineries from around the world pouring hundreds of wines.  Enjoy delicious food samplings from local and regional restaurants, caterers and suppliers.
Participate in cooking demonstrations and book signings by celebrity guest chefs, a silent auction, and a live auction.

12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Advance purchase price $90 by September 17;  $110 after September 17.

Free parking at Easton's Beach on Memorial Boulevard.  No onsite parking at Marble House.

All attendees must be 21 or over.  No one under the age of 21 will be admitted.


Wine & Food Festival: Grand Tasting, Sunday, September 26, 2010

The Grand Tasting takes place on the lawn of Marble House, with wineries from around the world pouring hundreds of wines.  Enjoy delicious food samplings from local and regional restaurants, caterers and suppliers.
Participate in cooking demonstrations and book signings by celebrity guest chefs, a silent auction, and a live auction.

This ticket is valid Sunday, September 26 only, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Advance purchase price $75 by September 17;  $95 after September 17.

Free parking at Easton's Beach on Memorial Boulevard.  No onsite parking at Marble House.

All attendees must be 21 or over.  No one under the age of 21 will be admitted.


Wine & Food Festival: Sunday Jazz Brunch Package, September 26, 2010

Start your day at the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival with a delicious buffet brunch, designed by Annie Copps of Yankee Magazine, on the terrace of Marble House, accompanied by live jazz. 

After brunch, move down to the Grand Tasting tent, where you'll enjoy tastings of hundreds of wines and additional food samplings by regional restaurants, caterers and suppliers; free cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, and a silent auction.

This ticket is valid for Sunday, September 26 ONLY.

Advance purchase by September 17, $135; after September 17, $150

Free parking at Easton's Beach on Memorial Boulevard.  No onsite parking at Marble House.

All attendees must be 21 or over.  No one under the age of 21 will be admitted.

 
NEWPORT MANSIONS is a registered trademark of The Preservation Society of Newport County. Our tickets should not be presented at any other mansion in Newport except The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, Chepstow, The Elms, Green Animals Topiary Garden, Hunter House, Isaac Bell House, Kingscote, Marble House, and Rosecliff.