Newport’s Breakers Mansion Opens Third Floor to Visitors for First Time

Experience an upstairs/downstairs perspective this summer at one of Newport, Rhode Island’s most magnificent historic mansions with a newly opened tour that, for the first time, includes access to the building’s third floor. Once private family quarters of the Vanderbilts, these rooms have never before been open to the public.

“The third floor of The Breakers is a historically significant space,” said Trudy Coxe, CEO and executive director of The Preservation Society of Newport County, which has cared for The Breakers since 1972. “Opening these private living quarters to visitors allows us to present a more complete story—not only of this iconic property but also of the family who built and inhabited it for generations.”

The guided Breakers Third Floor Preservation in Progress Tour runs each afternoon at 3:30 p.m. and offers an intimate look at active preservation work. Visitors will see original décor and design features spanning the 1890s, the 1940s, and other periods, gaining insight into the layers of history within the rooms.

“Work on this space is ongoing, so the tour will present an evolving experience,” added Leslie Jones, director of Museum Affairs and chief curator for the Preservation Society. “This early version of the tour invites visitors to witness preservation in action: how decisions are made, which conservation techniques are chosen, and why those choices best serve the building’s history. We’re pleased to share our methods while introducing this previously private area of The Breakers to the public.”

If you can’t make it to Newport this summer, consider visiting in the fall to tour The Breakers and enjoy the annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival. Check the Preservation Society’s announcements for dates and details before planning your visit.