The mansion was constructed specifically to host the 'high society' of the Gilded Age, boasting over 60 rooms.
The Sunken Garden was painstakingly restored to its original 1910 design using historical photographs and architectural plans.
The house features a subterranean tunnel system originally used by staff for discreet service access.
The interior contains a significant collection of 18th-century French furniture and European art.
Despite its massive scale, the mansion was completed in a remarkably short two-year construction window.
The property's rooftop was designed to serve as a private terrace, a modern architectural choice for 1901.
The central heating system was considered state-of-the-art for residential use during the early 20th century.
The Elms is a 1901 Gilded Age summer residence modeled after the mid-18th-century French Château d'Asnieres. Commissioned by coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind, the mansion was designed by architect Horace Trumbauer to accommodate extensive entertaining. The structure is built of brick and steel, faced with Indiana limestone. It features a Classical Revival exterior paired with an interior designed by Allard et Fils of Paris. The property includes a ten-acre park featuring sunken gardens, bronze statuary, and marble pavilions. The house was one of the first in America to be wired for electricity throughout. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. The Preservation Society of Newport County maintains the site for public tours.
The center of the lower level of the Sunken Garden looking back toward the limestone facade of the mansion.
Use the provided audio tour, which offers detailed insights into the lives of the servants who maintained the estate.
Allow extra time to walk the full perimeter of the sunken gardens, as they are often overlooked by visitors focusing only on the house.
Check the official website for rotating special exhibitions inside the mansion.
Do not attempt to walk from downtown Newport, as Bellevue Avenue lacks consistent pedestrian infrastructure and is a long distance.
The mansion is open year-round, but specific garden features may be limited during winter months; check the website for occasional closures during private events.
No flash photography inside the mansion; please refrain from touching any artifacts or period furnishings.
