Newport Mansions

Yesterday, Tuesday the third of December, the Junior class took a trip to Newport Mansions in Newport, Rhode Island. About 175 students visited the Elms Mansion and the Breakers Mansion, both near the coast of the Long Island Sound. The Breakers was built for Commadore Cornelius Vanderbilt, a steamship tycoon in the 19th century. Richard Morris Hunt was commissioned to design and build the Mansion in 1893. He brought in the finest materials from all over the world, and by working two teams of laborers twenty four hours a day and seven days a week, was able to finish the mansion in just two years.

The other Mansion, The Elms, was constructed for Mr. and Mrs. Edward Berwind by Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer. Mr. Berwind was highly successful in the Pennsylvania coal industry. It was modeled after a Parisian chateau and finished in 1901 at an estimated cost of $1.4 million. It is furnished with French and Venetian paintings as well as several works of art from Asia.

Three busses were needed to transport the group of students to and from Newport. Once they arrived, the group split into two parties who took turns touring each of the Mansions. The trip was a very educational one; the students were able to glimpse into the past and see how upper-class citizens lived over a century ago.

A picture of The Breakers are shown below:

Picture Credit: www.newportmansions.org