The mansion was constructed with a steel structural frame to be fireproof after the previous wooden house on the site burned down.
The dining room ceiling features a massive painting by artist Guillaume Dubufe that was completed in Paris and shipped to Newport in sections.
The house includes a hidden internal system of pipes for sea water to provide saltwater baths for the family.
The grand fireplace in the library is carved from a single, massive block of light-colored marble.
Architect Richard Morris Hunt and the design team completed the entire mansion in approximately two years.
Many of the interior decorative panels were crafted by artisans in France and Italy before being shipped for assembly.
The mansion is built at the edge of the Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile public walkway maintained along the Newport coastline.
The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer 'cottages,' commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II and completed in 1895. Designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, the mansion features an Italian Renaissance-style palazzo design inspired by 16th-century structures in Genoa and Turin. The 70-room estate spans approximately 125,000 square feet across 13 acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Its interior showcases rare materials including African marble, Baccarat crystal, and intricate mosaic tiling. The mansion remains under the stewardship of the Preservation Society of Newport County. Visitors access the property via a self-guided audio tour that covers the main floor, second floor, and grounds. The architecture incorporates advanced steel construction methods hidden behind elaborate decorative veneers. The estate serves as a primary example of the Gilded Age's architectural extravagance in the United States.
The back loggia overlooking the Atlantic Ocean provides the most iconic view of the mansion's architecture against the sea.
Download the official Newport Mansions app beforehand to use your own headphones for the audio tour.
Combine your visit with other properties managed by the Preservation Society to save on total admission fees.
Prioritize the grounds and stable area, which are often overlooked by visitors focused solely on the main house.
Attempting to visit on a summer weekend afternoon when the mansion reaches maximum capacity and wait times for audio devices are longest.
The mansion remains open year-round, but specific upper-floor rooms or grounds sections may close for seasonal maintenance or private events.
Photography is permitted without flash; large backpacks and bags are prohibited; business casual attire is encouraged but not strictly enforced.
