Sunshine! We decided to get out into it before it disappears again. Beautiful! We got up, had our breakfast and coffee and then headed out for a drive around Newport, Rhode Island. There are so many monster homes here. Pretty ridiculous. We went out Ocean Drive and saw some new ones being built. Even the more modest ones are huge here.
Headed for mansion row and this estate looms a couple blocks from where we are staying and a mile or two from the big ones.Ocean Drive is lovely, the wave action is so much less than the Pacific.New versions of the Newport wealthy dream.Seven chimneys (that we saw).
Of all things, I fell in love with the fence.
The drive along the coastal roads was beautiful. Reminded us of the pampered coast of Pebble Beach, in California. We want to walk the Cliff Walk but haven’t found out where it’s a good spot to park and walk. We thought about renting bikes. We’ll see. Such a beautiful day.
We got to the Marble House and took the audio tour.
Our Marble Mansion selfie.Many years ago this chain was put in the trunk and limb to protect against future breakage.
The tour started in the main entrance and then went to the dining room.
Just inside the entrance. This is a framed tapestry that survived the French Revolution because it portrayed a mob killing a wealthy person with an ax. Because the mob liked the subject they did not destroy it.
We were then directed into the dining room.
The dining room is just off the main entrance and takes your breath away.French was the first language in this house. Everything European royalty was admired and emulated.What isn’t marble is wood or plaster and painted or covered with gold.The chairs weigh 75 lbs each, except for the end chairs, they weigh 100 lbs. A footman is required to get you in and out. The folding screen hides those who serve and are not to be seen.
Very custom door knob.The morning room where one goes after breakfast.The audio guide tablet, very easy to use, navigate and explore.Harold with kittens. His youthful portrait.The doors are 3 to 4 inches thick and have industrial strength hinges.Under the grand stairs an antique awaits.Door hardware on the glass doors leading outside in the back of the house.One hell of a flower pot.Gothic room stained glass.Gothic room fireplace.Ceiling in the Gothic room.Moving from the Gothic room to the Gold room.A worker was cleaning one of the chandeliers. I watched for a moment and pointed out where she had missed a spot.This is just ridiculously Louis XIV over the top..I asked her if working in such a gilded place made it easier. She acknowledged that when she was done it was pleasant to see it shine.The crack tells me this is likely a wood panel, carved, and covered with gold leaf.Seems all the ceilings are concerned with angels and clouds.I asked her if she felt a kinship with the folks that worked here in the day. She laughed and told me that her grandparents made their livings by working for the families that owned the mansions.Pretty woman headed up the grand staircase.Grumpy headed up the stairs.A wall sconce wouldn’t do?Men’s mezzanine waiting area.Women’s mezzanine waiting area.Looking back down from the mezzanine, beautiful front doors.Looking up from the mezzanine. Defined as a floor between two others.Cornelius Vanderbilt.William.Mr Vanderbilt’s bedroom.His sitting area.Over the top.Her bedroom was also her office.I don’t think Mrs. Vanderbilt liked men at all. Divorced her husband to be a good example for women.Daughter Consuelo was a beautiful young woman.Another custom door knob and lock set.Canopied bed for the daughter.Consuelo’s bedroom is large.Nice big table.Huge dressing table.She had a large bedroom fireplace.Blenheim Palace, where Consuelo ended up living and raising her family for many years.She had coffered ceilings.Beautiful door treatment.A former dressing room for Consuelo, converted to house trophy and memorabilia from yachting. The Commodore on the left, who left about 90 million. His son William on the right, who turned the 90 million into about 200 million in 10 years.Harold, the boy with the kittens now grown up and big into Americas Cup yacht racing.Beautiful inlay work.Servant stairs.A warehouse fire destroyed part of the marble shipment from Italy. All that arrived went to the downstairs walls, the show off walls. The second floor was family rooms and fake marble was created with plaster and paint. In this picture we see rain damage from an old leak.Guest bedroom.Hallway to guest sitting area and boys’ bedrooms.
Pleasant enough looking waiting room.Hallway to the boys rooms – opposite wing of the house from the rest of the family..Dinky bed, no canopy.Dinky paintings, plain wall paper.Dinky fireplace.Best thing was the ocean view.Frilly wall paper and prints of French soldiers.Family symbol.OMG, a plain door knob!Commercial hinges, bought off the shelf!There is only two and is a standard sized door.Stair case leading up to boys wing or down to the kitchen, depending on your point of view. A kitchen fire would potentially take the boys.Delivery door and place where riff raff persons might enter.Felt pretty comfortable seeing the bars, installed to keep riff raff out. Mine used to keep them in.Ice box.The woodwork in the kitchen is functional and very nice.The guy in charge of the outside sat here and ran a tight ship.The woodwork in the kitchen is functional and very nice.Lots of pretty dishes and decanters.Pet Cocks. There are 75 of them. They are used to drain all the water and gas lines at the end of the season.Very cool in its day, a hot water heater.Way cool.
A typical serving sent up the dumb waiter.The stair case goes behind the dumb waiter. My girth would not allow me to frequent it.The grill and ovens are huge.Many work stations in the kitchen.Copper, the pot of choice.Pretty woman taking it all in.Nice neighborhood.Very nice looking. The tile roof shimmers in the sunlight.Beautifully painted.Cliff walk and a little tunnel on the right to get past the Marble House property.Part of Cliff Walk.
Very interesting. It was another one of the Vanderbilt boys with a catch. He gifted the house to his wife as soon as it was finished, who then divorced him a few years later. The house was built for a cottage type feel. Not sure what cottage she was hanging out in, but this was no average cottage. They only spent six weeks out of the year there. Hard to believe. So much money and so much waste. Felt sorry for the three kids. The only daughter was pretty much forced to marry royalty in England (but she later divorced) because of her mother. The mom wanted her daughter to have a title, even at quite the cost to the parents to have to pay yearly. Reminded us so much of Downton Abbey, except in Downton Abbey there was love.
We left Marble House and drove to the church where JFK and Jackie got married. We wanted to go inside but there is absolutely no parking anywhere nearby and it looked like it was closed. We opted to find some place to eat instead and ended up at a little Italian place called Lorusso’s. Really good food and great service. Small and warm atmosphere. We even got some spaghetti to go for later.
It is such a beautiful day many folks are walking Bellevue Ave, AKA Mansion Row.Lovely.The only way you find the resort is from the awning.
We got back to our home and I did some laundry. After it was all done we took a walk to the wharf we look at every time we look out our window. We also walked quite a ways down the street and then back. Lovely day for a walk. There are quite a few old antique type shops with fun and quirky things to buy. Enjoyed seeing all the items, especially the copper, which I totally enjoy.
I like the tri-colored house.The old armory, now antiques store.This is a really cool dog. We especially liked his sunglasses.Night fell gently and quietly on a most pleasant day.
I am fighting a cold and am going to bed. That was our day. Hope yours was great!
