Newport, Rhode Island is renowned for its stunning collection of Gilded Age mansions, but few capture the essence of America's "noble experiment" in aristocracy quite like The Elms. Standing proudly among the city's historic treasures, this magnificent summer residence offers visitors a glimpse into a bygone era of unprecedented opulence and social ambition.
Completed in 1901 at a cost of approximately $1.4 million (about $45 million in today's currency), The Elms was the summer residence of coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind and his wife Herminie. Berwind, who made his fortune supplying coal to industries and the U.S. Navy, commissioned Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer to design a home that would establish the Berwinds as social elites in Newport's exclusive summer colony.
Rather than following the more common English manor house style of many Newport mansions, Trumbauer drew inspiration from the mid-18th century French château d'Asnières near Paris. The result was a stunning Beaux-Arts masterpiece with a symmetrical limestone façade, elegant proportions, and refined classical details. The mansion's stately appearance immediately announced the Berwinds' arrival as cultural connoisseurs with European tastes.
While the exterior impresses with its classical restraint, the interior of The Elms dazzles with its opulence. The central hallway features a sweeping marble staircase, intricate plasterwork, and gilded bronze decorations. The mansion houses an impressive collection of French and Venetian paintings, Oriental jades, 18th-century French furniture, and Renaissance ceramics—all authentic pieces acquired by the Berwinds during their European travels.
The dining room, perhaps the most spectacular space in the house, features carved panels from an 18th-century French château, Venetian paintings, and a table that could seat 22 guests. The ballroom, with its gold leaf details and crystal chandeliers, hosted Newport's most exclusive social gatherings during the summer season.
Despite its historical appearance, The Elms was thoroughly modern for its time. It was among the first homes in America to be wired for electricity and featured a sophisticated coal-fired heating system. The basement housed an elaborate ice-making plant and a modern laundry facility. Most impressively, the mansion pioneered one of the first residential electric refrigeration systems in the United States.
The grounds of The Elms are equally impressive, featuring meticulously maintained gardens inspired by 18th-century French design. Landscape architect Ernest W. Bowditch created terraced gardens, marble pavilions, and fountains across the 10-acre property. The centerpiece is a sunken garden with classical statuary and precisely trimmed hedges, creating outdoor "rooms" that served as extensions of the home's interior spaces.
A notable feature is the garden's collection of more than 40 mature trees, including some of the property's original elms (though many were lost to Dutch elm disease and have been replaced with disease-resistant varieties). These majestic trees provide the estate with its name and create a verdant sanctuary in the heart of Newport.
While the Berwinds and their guests enjoyed unparalleled luxury upstairs, a staff of more than 40 servants maintained this grand lifestyle from the basement and service areas. Today, visitors can tour these "back of house" spaces, including the kitchen, laundry rooms, and servants' quarters, offering a fascinating contrast to the opulence above and a more complete picture of Gilded Age society.
The servants at The Elms worked in conditions that were advanced for the time, with electric lighting, adequate ventilation, and modern equipment, though their lives remained largely hidden from the mansion's privileged residents and guests.
After Edward Berwind's death in 1936, his sister Julia maintained the property until her passing in 1961. The mansion was scheduled for demolition, but in a landmark preservation effort, the Preservation Society of Newport County purchased The Elms in 1962 for $116,000. This eleventh-hour rescue preserved one of America's most significant architectural and historical treasures.
In 1996, The Elms was designated a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its exceptional significance in American history and culture.
Today, The Elms is one of Newport's most visited historic sites, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. The mansion is open for tours year-round, with special behind-the-scenes tours offering access to the servant quarters and attic spaces.
Walking through its grand rooms and gardens, visitors can experience the extravagant lifestyle of America's industrial elite during the Gilded Age. From the grand entry hall to the smallest service corridor, The Elms stands as a perfect time capsule of an era when American ambition and European traditions merged to create something uniquely spectacular.
Whether you're a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply curious about how America's wealthiest families once lived, The Elms offers an unparalleled window into the past—a monument to both the excesses and the artistic achievements of the Gilded Age.
The Elms is located at 367 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. It's open daily for tours, with extended hours during the summer season. The mansion is part of the Newport Mansions experience managed by the Preservation Society of Newport County, which offers various ticket options for visiting multiple properties.
For the most immersive experience, consider taking the "Servant Life Tour," which explores the mansion from the perspective of the staff who made this lavish lifestyle possible. During the holiday season, The Elms is decorated with period-appropriate Christmas ornaments and decorations, offering a magical glimpse into Gilded Age celebrations.
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Newport, Rhode Island is renowned for its stunning collection of Gilded Age mansions, but few capture the essence of America's "noble experiment" in aristocracy quite like The Elms. Standing proudly among the city's historic treasures, this magnificent summer residence offers visitors a glimpse into a bygone era of unprecedented opulence and social ambition. […]