548 Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI 02840
Commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899, architect Stanford White modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles. After the house was completed in 1902, at a reported cost of $2.5 million, Mrs. Oelrichs hosted fabulous entertainments here, including a fairy tale dinner and a party featuring famed magician Harry Houdini.
"Tessie", as she was known to her friends, was born in Virginia City, Nevada. Her father, James Graham Fair, was an Irish immigrant who made an enormous fortune from Nevada's Comstock silver lode, one of the richest silver finds in history. During a summer in Newport, Theresa met Hermann Oelrichs playing tennis at the Newport Casino. They were married in 1890. A year later, they purchased the property known as Rosecliff from the estate of historian and diplomat George Bancroft. An amateur horticulturist, it was Bancroft who developed the American Beauty Rose. The Oelrichs later bought additional property along Bellevue Avenue and commissioned Stanford White to replace the original house with the mansion that became the setting for many of Newport's most lavish parties.
Rosecliff is now preserved through the generosity of its last private owners, Mr. and Mrs. J. Edgar Monroe, of New Orleans. They gave the house, its furnishings, and an endowment to the Preservation Society in 1971.
Scenes from several films have been shot on location at Rosecliff, including The Great Gatsby, True Lies and Amistad.
Newport Mansions Experience
The Newport Mansions Experience ticket provides admission to any 5 houses 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.