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Take a look inside Rosecliff, a 30-room mansion built for a Gilded Age heiress and modeled after a French palace

August 21, 20240
Rosecliff is in Newport, Rhode Island.

Dave Hansen – The Preservation Society of Newport County

Rosecliff cost an estimated $2.5 million to build during the Gilded Age — around $91.4 million in today’s dollars.

Tours of the property are considerably more affordable. One adult ticket costs $25 and can be purchased through the Preservation Society of Newport County. An app called Newport Mansions also offers self-guided audio tours of Rosecliff and other Gilded Age mansions in the area such as the Breakers.

I visited Rosecliff during a period in August when admission was free but only the first floor of the mansion was open to the public.

The architect, Stanford White, based the design on King Louis XIV’s Grand Trianon palace in Versailles.
The heart staircase in the Rosecliff foyer.

Andrea Hansen – The Preservation Society of Newport County

When guests arrived for one of Oelrichs’ gatherings, the women would climb the stairs to hand off their outerwear and then descend the grand staircase with dramatic flair.

“The stairs are really designed for you to be seen,” Abigail Stewart, the research and interpretation coordinator for the Preservation Society of Newport County, said in the audio tour.

Oelrichs would stand and greet her guests in Rosecliff’s French Rennaissance-style salon.
The chandelier in the salon.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Upon closer examination, lyres and trumpets were visible in the design.

The Gothic fireplace featured French limestone panels that were cast from an original Rennaissance chimneypiece.
The ballroom.

Andrea Hansen – The Preservation Society of Newport County

Measuring 40 feet by 80 feet, the ballroom has been featured in films such as “The Great Gatsby,” “27 Dresses,” and “Amistad.”

True to Oelrichs’ legacy, the ballroom still hosts weddings, galas, and other gatherings.
The ceiling of the ballroom.

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“If you visualize the setting lit by the gas of the period, it would have given you the impression of being outdoors at sunset,” Paul Miller, a curator at Rosecliff, said of the ceiling painting in the audio tour.

The library was Hermann Oelrichs’ domain where he and other men would relax and smoke cigars.
Paintings in the library.

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Hermann Oelrichs was an award-winning swimmer and athlete.

In the dining room, Oelrichs hosted 200 people for dinner in the summer of 1913.
A stove in the dining room.

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The mirrored panels in the corner of the room hid the butler’s pantry.

Rosecliff is surrounded by 8 acres of gardens.
Ocean views at Rosecliff.

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Rosecliff overlooks Sheep Point Cove and is located along Newport’s Cliff Walk, which passes by some of the area’s historic homes.

With Rosecliff’s gigantic ballroom and timeless glamour, I could see why it remains a popular setting for parties.
Rosecliff.

Dave Hansen – The Preservation Society of Newport County

At Rosecliff, I could imagine Oelrichs entertaining guests in glittering candlelit rooms during the Gilded Age just as much as I could picture attending a modern wedding or gala there. It’s a captivating place to visit in any century.