Things to Do at The Breakers

The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's Gilded Age mansions, built as the summer residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II in 1895. This 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo stands as a testament to the extraordinary wealth and opulence of America's Gilded Age elite. Designed by renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt, the mansion overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and represents one of the most spectacular examples of Gilded Age architecture in the United States. Now operated as a museum by the Preservation Society of Newport County, The Breakers showcases the lavish lifestyle of the Vanderbilt family through its meticulously preserved rooms, priceless furnishings, and stunning architectural details. The mansion's name derives from its dramatic clifftop location where ocean waves crash against the rocky shoreline below, creating the 'breakers' that give this magnificent estate its evocative name.

The Breakers is located at 44 Ochre Point Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island, about 5 miles southeast of downtown Newport. From Providence, take I-95 South to Route 4 South, then Route 1 South to Newport (approximately 45-minute drive). Limited on-site parking is available for $5, or use the free RIPTA Wave shuttle that connects downtown Newport to the mansion during peak season. The mansion is also accessible via taxi, rideshare services, or as part of organized tours from Providence or Boston.