Rough Point Mansion

Explore this exquisite mansion from the late 1800s.

Rough Point Mansion is located in Newport, Rhode Island, and was Frederick W. Vanderbilt's residence. He was the sixth son of William H. Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt sold the mansion in 1906 to William B. Leeds, and then in 1922, Leeds's widow sold it to James B. Duke - the benefactor of Duke University. After a year of renovations, Duke left everything to his 12-year-old daughter Doris Duke, including his new home. Doris Duke had many other homes, including one in Hawaii. She loved Newport, Rhode Island, and often came to Rough Point in the summer. 

Rough Point Mansion is 39,000 square feet and features English Manorial style architecture, designed by the architectural firm Peabody & Stearns. Red sandstone and granite were among the construction materials used, and the mansion was completed in 1892. Doris traveled all over the world and spent 30 years during her travels buying and collecting unique items. Visitors will see hundreds of paintings, such as a Renoir and a Van Dyke portrait of King Charles XI, Chinese porcelain, and hand-painted wallpaper inside the mansion. She also collected ancient tapestries from the Palace of Versailles, plus two end tables that belonged to Catherine The Great. Doris even had a saltwater swimming pool in her basement and a single-person elevator to take her to the pool. Duke died in 1993. In her will, she wanted the mansion to become a museum, which was officially opened to the public in 2000. The estate is set up just as it was when Doris Duke left it in 1992. If you love historic buildings, be sure to tour the Rough Point Mansion the next time you visit Rhode Island.