The Breakers, Newport, RI – 3/28/2017

March 28, 2017 (Tuesday)

Got up to rain and grey (again). We decided to postpone going into Boston until the weather is a tad bit nicer, or at least a little warmer. We opted to go see “The Breakers” house today since it is mostly an inside tour.

The drive to the Breakers was about two miles and goes along Cliff Drive. Parts of Cliff Drive are shut down due to maintenance. We thought about taking the walk along part of the drive, but decided to wait until it’s nicer outside. The drive to The Breakers was lovely and we went by many mansion type homes. Some have been converted into B&B’s, some into apartments, and some into a private college. There were still so many actual mansions.  Pretty amazing to imagine what it would have been back “in the day.”

Bridge visibility is a measure of the clouds.
En route to the mansion district.

Nice looking monster homes with multiple fireplaces.

Each big one we think, “That’s it.” Wrong…
Now that is an entrance gate.
Our mansion selfie.
Big, almost 140,000 square feet.
Neighbors not too close. After all, the house was used a full 8 weeks a year.

We got to The Breakers and parked in the parking lot across the street. We got our tickets – we opted to get the two home package for $27.00 per person.

Urn at the entrance.
Brass covered doors.
Pretty woman’s hand to show how ridiculously thick the door is and how big the hinge is.
Nice detail.

Walking into the lobby of The Breakers was pretty spectacular. The doors themselves were over the top. The tour was a self-guided audio tour and we got so much information. Really enjoyed it.

Grand room.
Looking over the grand staircase.
Table in the grand room.
Grand room ceiling.
Acorns in the center.

Seems the father, Cornelius the second, built the home but was only able to live in it in good health for one year. He suffered a stroke and died two years later. They only used the home for about eight weeks out of the year. They had forty servants, minimum, waiting on them hand and foot. The house had something like fifteen resident and guest bedrooms (many more for the servants on the third floor), and something like twenty bathrooms.

Cornelius Vanderbilt II, was the builder of the Breakers.
There are so many fireplaces, all functional and the house had central heat.
The breakfast room.
Breakfast room. No flash allowed, makes it real hard to get a good photo.

The home was stunning with all the marble, granite, gold, platinum, tile, tapestry, artwork, etc. Just beautiful. The ceiling in the pool room was great, the grand staircase was spectacular, and the ceiling in the dining room was awesome.

Ceiling in the dining room.
Twin chandeliers that were duel fuel, electric and gas, in case the power went out.
Dining room.
Alabaster columns.

A very beautiful painting.
The standard under the staircase fountain.
The billiard room is covered in marble and alabaster.
The wrought iron light is so heavy it was tied into the main room and roof supports.
It is a large room.
The acorn was the Vanderbilt family symbol.
Mosaic. Remarkably labor intensive.
Made much of their money in railroads. Steam engine on the left.
Steam ship on the right.
Some massive fireplaces and mantels.
Door to the morning room.
The morning room.
Cornelius again, the grandson and namesake of the original wealth builder.
They wondered why this never tarnished, believing it to be silver. They x-rayed and discovered it is platinum.
She inherited the Breakers and didn’t want it.
Her husband, a Duke. They leased it to the preservation society who bought it from her heirs for about $350,000.

Ceiling of part of the music room.
Coffered ceilings throughout.
I don’t remember which room, there are so many that look so much alike.
Music room, this is an instrument.
Part of the music room.
Okay, I do know: music room.
Headed into the library.
Library.
Gold paint worked into the wood to resemble the old leather of a book.
Headed up the back stairs to the second floor.
There is s translucent quality to the capital. The light is showing through.
One of the Vanderbilt daughter’s room.
Each bedroom has a bathroom.
They are all connected.
The toilet and sink are behind the doors.
Sink.
Mr V’s bedroom.
I prefer a more intimate, somewhat small room for sleep.
His fireplace.
Staff buttons above the desk and next to the phone.
Outdoor view.
The gentleman’s dressing room.
His bathroom.

The tub is carved marble and they had to fill it three times with hot water to warm it enough to hold the temperature and be comfortable for Mr V. Four handles, two for fresh water and two for salt.
Mrs. V’s bedroom is next door.
Her staff buttons.
The bed does not look comfortable. Ikea beds look better to me.
Her bedroom was also her office.

Her bath.
The Breakers was the site of a dinner for John and Jackie Kennedy in 1962. They sat at the base of the grand staircase.

When she found out she was an heiress she was sad, fearing that no one would like her for herself, only for the money. She wished she could have been born poor.
She grew up and a wealthy handsome young man fell in love with her. He didn’t need her money at all. She became a sculptor.

This is the second breakers we are touring.
Outdoor living room with a great ocean view out the back of the house.
Looking out the outdoor living room. Lawn parties took place out here.
Strange crows on the capital.
Another child’s bedroom.

Thick doors, toilet of the day and staff buttons in the bath.
Mrs. V center stage on the Grand Staircase.
Cornelius’ father, William. William inherited about 100 million from his father and within 8 years turned it into 200 million. He said it was enough to kill a man, worrying about that much money.
The original Cornelius, a poor farmer, borrowed money from his mom and bought a 21 foot boat. He started ferrying people, animals and materials from Staten Island to Manhattan. He soon became the owner of many boats and ships and started investing in railroads. He controlled huge shipping and railroad transactions.
One piece carved as round and square.
Servant stairs down to the kitchen.
A way for the servants on the second floor to talk to their counterparts on the first floor.
The last Breakers was destroyed by fire from the kitchen. This one is a separate wing and as fire proof as it could be in its day.
Fresh flowers were cut here and distributed throughout the house each day the family was here.
Storage.
Upper cabinets where the china and serving bowls are stored.
Warming oven.
Silver safe, locked up every night.

Loved it all but would not want to clean it or maintain it. The youngest daughter inherited the home and lived in it for awhile. She had always loved the home and used to slide down the grand staircase banister. Too funny. John F. Kennedy had dinner in the house in the early 1960’s. Many parties were held here.

The door handles are very intricate.
We exit through the gift shop.  No wonder they go to sea from here. Dory rocker instead of a horse.
Exit gate.
Lions and chimneys.
Beautiful copper patina.
The scale of everything here is huge.

We left and drove to Walmart. Still trying to get Michael’s medication and still no luck. We ended up having lunch near the Walmart at a place called CilantroMex. Very similar to Chipotle (but not quite as good).

Lunch, a total copycat of Chipotle.

We drove back home in the rain and are now settled in.  Having our vegetable soup for dinner.  That was our day. Hope yours was great!