Marble House (Newport, Rhode Island)

USA / Rhode Island / Newport / Newport, Rhode Island / Bellevue Avenue, 596
 mansion / manor house / villa, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, green area, 1892_construction, fenced area, U.S. National Historic Landmark

596 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
www.newportmansions.org/explore/marble-house

'Marble House' was built in 1888-1892 for sportsman William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849-1920) as a gift for his wife, Alva Erskine (nee Smith) (1853-1933). Richard Morris Hunt was the architect of the seaside villa which overlooks the Cliff Walk and Atlantic Ocean. Mrs. Vanderbilt retained ownership of 'Marble House' following her divorce from Mr. Vanderbilt in 1895.

In 1896 Mrs. Vanderbilt married Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont (1858-1908) and moved to his villa, 'Belcourt' (now known as 'Belcourt Castle'); following Mr. Belmont's death she returned to 'Marble House' and in 1912-1914 added an oceanside Chinese Tea House to the estate. In 1932 Mrs. Belmont sold the estate to investment banker and financier Frederick Henry Prince (1859-1953). The Preservation Society of Newport acquired 'Marble House' in 1963 and now (as of 2012) operates it as a museum; the estate was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006.

In keeping with its name, more than $7 million of the $11 million spent on the home went to purchase 500,000 cubic feet of marble from America, Italy and Africa.

Bing view - binged.it/AyoCi8

Robert Yarnall Richie aerial photo ca. 1932-1934 - digitalcollections.smu.edu/u?/ryr,384 and digitalcollections.smu.edu/u?/ryr,381
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   41°27'43"N   71°18'17"W

Comments

  • This estate was given to the Preservation Society in 1963 by Harold S. Vanderbilt (the sone of William K. Vanderbilt). The elaborate grille at the front doors is made of gun-metal finish steel and gilt bronze decoration. It is over 16 feet high and 25 feet wide, and the entire grille weights more than 10 tons. Due to their great weight, the central doors turn on heavy pivots insteads of the usual hinges. The Chinese Tea House was built in 1914 by Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont (the former Mrs. William K. Venderbilt).
This article was last modified 3 years ago