About The Preservation Society of Newport County
The Preservation Society of Newport County is the steward of Newport, Rhode Island's celebrated Gilded Age mansions and historic landscapes. Through its collection of historic properties, the Society preserves and interprets roughly 250 years of American history, architecture, art, and landscape design, offering visitors a unique journey through one of the country's most remarkable concentrations of historic houses.
The Society's house museums, sometimes known collectively as the Newport Mansions, range from opulent summer "cottages" built by America's wealthiest families to lush gardens and estates. Beyond preservation, the organization advances research and public interpretation, including work on Newport's history of slavery and freedom-making.
What to See
The Society's properties and programs offer a rich variety of experiences, including:
- The Breakers, the grandest of Newport's Gilded Age mansions, along with other historic house museums in the Society's care.
- Green Animals Topiary Garden, a lush country estate famous for its whimsical sculpted hedges.
- Special events and exhibitions such as the annual Newport Flower Show and the SESSIONS music series filmed in historic spaces.
Planning Your Visit
Operating hours vary by property and by season, with many mansions open daily during peak months and a published operating schedule for the rest of the year. Tickets, membership, and access passes provide entry across the Society's sites. To check which mansions and gardens are open, review schedules, and purchase tickets, visit the official website at www.newportmansions.org.
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