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Many Gilded Age mansions have fabulous gardens that remained open during most of the Corona-virus pandemic, even if the mansions were locked up. Since 2020, I’ve visited Ventfort, Naumkeag, and The Mount in Massachusetts, and the Ca d’Zan, Vizcaya, and the Flagler in Florida. A few weeks ago, I finally made it to The Breakers in Newport, R.I., one of the grandest of Gilded Age mansions.

The Breakers looks east over the Atlantic, and yes, you can see and hear breakers just over the cliff, at the property edge. The original building on this site, constructed in 1877, burned to the ground in 1892. The current building was designed by Richard Morris Hunt for Cornelius Vanderbilt II (grandson of the “Commodore“) and his wife Alice. Cornelius II (1843-1899) became president of the New York Central Railroad in 1885, after the death of his father.

The Breakers is in the Italian Renaissance style, as are so many of the “summer cottages” in Newport. Begun in 1893 and completed in 1895, it has 70 rooms with 138,300 square feet of space, and sits on 13 acres. This week and next, a few highlights.

Main facade

The main entrance to the Breakers is through a huge, wrought-iron gate. It’s no coincidence that it resembles the gate at the Conservatory Garden in Central Park, which was made for the mansion of Cornelius Vanderbilt II on Fifth Avenue. Also designed by Richard Morris Hunt, that mansion was the largest private residence ever erected in New York City, filling the whole block between 57th and 58th Streets.

This is the main facade, facing the street and the entrance gate.

The Great Hall

The main room for entertaining was the Great Hall, about 50 feet by 50 feet, with a 50-foot ceiling. The first major event held here was a party for Cornelius and Alice’s daughter Gertrude, who grew up to become a noted sculptor and the founder of the Whitney Museum.

The Billiard Room

Marble, mahogany, mosaics, and semi-precious stones.

The lights over the billiard table are so heavy that they had to be mounted to structural beams.

Everything a gentleman needs to play a proper game of billiards.

Sculpture group celebrating the Vanderbilts steamships and railroads

At the center is Mercury, the Roman god of Speed and commerce, who became the symbol of the New York Central Railroad. That’s why he hovers over the facade of Grand Central Terminal. On the left side, a cherub holds an anchor, a reminder that Cornelius Vanderbilt, founder of the dynasty, made his first millions in steamships. Behind him is a locomotive. On the other side is a cherub with a sledgehammer, for laying down railroad tracks.

The Music Room

Every wealthy home had a music room. This one, in French Baroque, was the setting for weddings and debutante parties as well as concerts and receptions.

The Library

Every wealthy home also had a library, whether or not the residents were avid readers.

Decorative panel in the Library: blind- and gilt-tooled leather.

Next week: upstairs.

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