The rich and powerful of the “gilded age” had summer homes and cottages in Newport, Rhode Island. Many of these mansions have been restored as museums of the past or used for new purposes (e.g., Salve Regina University).
The island was not developed commercially so there are no large cruise ports or high rises; it's famous for yachts and yacht racing. So, this port of call required the use of a tender boat to go ashore.
I took a walk along the Cliff Walk and toured The Breakers (the RI home of the Vanderbilt family). The Breakers was named for the distinct breaking sound of the waves on the cliffs and rocks outside the home. It was a beautiful home, but not of the same grand size as one of Cornelius Vanderbilt’s other home: Biltmore House. They are, however, mimicking the French chateau style.
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| A view of Newport as the ship anchors. |
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| Boating is extremely important in this part of Rhode Island. |
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| That's on really large yacht compared to the other ships around it. |
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| Want to go for a swim. These steps were originally constructed in wood for his kids to swim on the rocky coast. |
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| The tour included about one mile of walking along the Cliff Walk. |
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| Several movies have been shot in the city, and JFK married Jackie at St. Mary's Catholic Church. |
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| The Cliff Walk is part of public access along the coast. The rich and famous constructed berms and walls to keep folks off the lawns of the mansions. Some even had tunnels running under the public access area. |
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| The tour guide, a retired Brown University art educator, gives us some of the history of the famous homes. |
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| The Breakers takes its name from the breaking water along the cliffs. |
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| New purposes have been the lifeblood of these old mansions... this is part of the college system on the island. |
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| A view of the Vanderbilt residence from the Cliff Walk. |
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| Mark Twain coined the termed "the gilded age" for the rich industrialists who demonstrated wealthy by ostentatious expenditures/consumptions. Grand homes and European titles were greatly desired by the wealthy of this period. |
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| The dining room. |
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| The acorn was used as a symbol for the Vanderbilts. These are the elaborate floor tiles in the billiards room. |
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| This is an elaborate ceiling murals. |
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| Mr. Vanderbilt's tub was cared from a block of marble. Note the four faucets: two for hot and cold tap water and the other for hot and cold salt water. Salt water had medicinal properties according the those of this age. |
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| Wow! Look at that kitchen. |
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| This the side of the Breakers. |
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| The wealthy folks of this era looked to Europe for inspiration. |
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| I had lunch at a local restaurant in the harbor area. I'm ready to head back to the ship via the tender boat. I'm tired, and I'm glad tomorrow is a " sea day." |
