The Gilded Age in Newport – The Cliff Walk and Rosecliff

We began our second gilded day with a stroll on the Cliff Walk. In 1975 the path was designated as a national recreation trail which is uniquely situated in a National Historic District of the world famous mansions of the Gilded Age. As a public access walk one can experience the natural beauty of the Newport shoreline with the architectural history of the Gilded Age. The first paths along the Cliff Walk shoreline were likely made by the local deer and then traveled by the Narragansett Indians, followed by the colonials who harvested salvage floating ashore from ship wrecks. The Cliff Walk as we now know began in the 1880s, as estate owners built fences and brick walls to insulate themselves and increase their privacy from people passing by.

It was a gorgeous day for this walk along the cliff of Newport. Simply beautiful.

We left the Cliff Walk at Marine Avenue and walked to Bellevue Avenue to tour Rosecliff.

• Construction was from 1899 – 1902. Completed in 1902, at a reported cost of $2.5 million.
• Architect Stanford White modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of Louis XIV  and his mistress at Versailles. 
• Considered to be one of the most handsome of Newport’s summer residences of the gilded age. The exterior is snow-white terra cotta.
• The 65,000 square-foot summer home had 70 rooms, including 22 bedrooms, a hand-decorated, two-story ballroom and immense dining rooms.
• In 1939, 13 years after Tessie died, the Oelrichs family closed the house. The house and contents were auctioned off in 1941 for $21,000.
• Rosecliff reopened to the public in September 2023 following an extensive 8-month, $7.4 million renovation.
• Scenes from several films have been shot at Rosecliff, including “The Great Gatsby,” “True Lies,” “Amistad” and “27 Dresses.” The front facade was shown during Season 1 of HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” but transported by special effects to a street in New York City.
• You can hold your wedding at Rosecliff……. $$$$$$$$$

Back to real life in the 21st century. We really enjoyed our four days in Newport and could have easily spent many more days. But isn’t it better to leave something to look forward to?

There is never a trip to Newport without a visit to the Seaman’s Institute and my favorite little chapel. I am so glad we renewed our vows there forget 25th wedding anniversary in 2019.