The famous Newport Mansions represent more than 250 years of American architectural and social development. If you arrive in Newport, you can tour these 11 historic house museums and 80 acres of gardens and grounds where you will discover a world of exceptional elegance and inspiration in architecture, art, interior design and landscapes. You will have the chance to visit the home of a Colonial shipping merchant and then move on to the Victorian villas that were built by the China Trade. From there, you can see the opulent Italian and French palaces of the Gilded Age. Touring the Newport Mansions is a fun, exciting and unique way to travel through American history. Tours are offered year round with three houses decorated for the Christmas holiday.

While the Newport Mansions tour takes you through the most popular of the houses, there are various others that can be toured individually such as the Belcourt Castle. The Belcourt Castle, one of the phenomenal buildings in Rhode Island, is an elegant building in which you can tour the interior and exterior as well. You can take in the medieval flavor or walk among the many spirits of the past during a Ghost Tour. The castle offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and enjoy the atmosphere of the Gilded Area. This Louis XIII style castle is home to an extensive collection of art and antiques that span diverse cultures and centuries. The collection includes 13th century European stained glass, 10 to 20th century furniture from various parts of the world, 17th to 20th century paintings, Renaissance armor, and a gold coronation coach.

Astors’ Beechwood Castle, which was initially built for New York merchant Daniel Parrish, offers an exclusive tour for anyone visiting this beautiful building. Like the other mansions in the area, visitors can take time to travel through the various rooms within this massive building and take in the beauty and charm of the architecture. What’s different about this tour is that the Beechwood Theatre Company portrays members of the Astor family and domestic staff, welcoming visitors to the summer home of the Mrs. Astor, queen of American society. The tour brings guests back to the year of 1891 where you will visit the Astor family members and friends and learn about the Victorian era, Newport society and the Astor family. Guests will also have the opportunity to cross into the servants’ corner for a view of their much different lifestyles.

The Blithewold Mansion Gardens & Arboretum, located in Bristol, Rhode Island, is comprised of 33 acres of lawns, gardens, specimen trees, and historic stone structures. Visitors can walk the grounds, cool down in the shade of the woodland, enjoy the solitude of the Water Garden, absorb the history of the enclosed garden, and be dazzled by the display gardens. While outside exploring the landscape, you can see Narragansett Bay and take full advantage of the stunning water view and the country setting. Come visit the Blithewold Mansion Gardens & Arboretum where you can see more than a dozen different gardens, specimen trees, and a 45-room English style manor hours, all recording a rich social history of the lives of one family over a span of more than 100 years.

Whether you are visiting Rhode Island during the summer months or the winter months, the Mansions of this state will stun and amaze you no matter what the season.