The Elms

Tour this beautiful mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, built during "The Gilded Age."

During the late 19th century, American history tells us that there was rapid industrialization. With minimal government regulations, people of the upper classes accumulated great wealth, and they had opulent lifestyles. The Elms was built during this time and was completed in 1901. This mansion has 48 rooms and has a total of 60,000 square feet. There is a parlor, garden room, library, dining room, sunroom, and a ballroom inside, plus 7guest bedrooms and a private suite for the homeowners. The mansion was built for a coal magnate, Edward Julius Berwind, for approximately $1.4 million. It was modeled after the 18th-century French chateau d'Asnieres and was used mostly as a summer home for 6 to 8 weeks (July through August).

The Berwind's had a staff of about 40 people that took care of the mansion, food, chores, and grounds. Staff workers had living quarters in the basement with some rooms on the top floors. The house had a heating system that used three coal-powered boilers located in the basement. Even though the Berwind's were not at the house, it was kept warm, and the coal was delivered to Dixon Street, and small railroad cars ran in a tunnel directly to the basement. They also had a generator in the basement for electricity. Outside, the grounds are spacious, and the garden designs are picturesque. It features stables, gazebos, 3 fountains, benches, and garden sculptures.

Edward died in 1936, and Julia died in 1961. They did not have any children. Charles Dunlap inherited the property, sold the furnishings at auction, and sold the property to a developer. To save the history and the beautiful property, the Preservation Society raised money to buy the house. Today, the Preservation Society of Newport County owns the mansion, and it has been open to the public since 1962. Many of the original furnishings have been recovered or replaced. Some modern upgrades have been made, but it was important to the Preservation Society to keep the home close to its original appearance. They had audio self-guided tours of the mansion and a separate tour called the Servant Life Tour. Learn about the history of The Elms the next time you visit Newport.