William Kissam Vanderbilt's Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island. It was built between 1888 and 1892 at an estimated cost of $11 million (the equivalent of $260 million in todays' prices). For a considerable period the house was used for little more than a clothes store. Now it is a very well-run museum, but it still has the feel of a mausoleum.
We visited Newport 2 yrs ago. We drove to the mansion and walked up to the gated entrance which is guarded by docents who charge to take you through the property. As I recall, it was $26 per person to see it and, frankly, I didn't want to see it that much.
ReplyDeleteC Girl : That does sound expensive. We got entrance to two of the Newport Mansions plus transport to and from our ship for not much more than that. It was a good day out.
ReplyDeleteIt makes an excellent movie set, though. They filmed The Great Gatsby (the one with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow) there, and some exterior scenes from a movie whose title I forget but which Ah-nold starred in and which involved setting off explosives at night.
ReplyDeleteBut the best part of Marble House is the Chinese Tea House out back. Did you wander out there?
Roy : Yes, Roy - and you are right, it was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWe did a tour of the mansion in 2004. I loved it there. Newport is a great place.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, Alan, I am pleased to see your combined works all in one blog. It makes it so convenient to enjoy all of your efforts.
ReplyDelete(I have responded to your comment over at mine, by the way.)
I must go and rewatch "The Great Gatsby" again. For the er, building, not Mr. Redford. No.
ReplyDeleteIt does look strangely 'dead' somehow for such a grand building. But beautiful in its way. I've never watched The Great Gatsby - maybe I should, after what Kat said!
ReplyDeleteisn't that the wildest place.
ReplyDeletewhat i really got a kick out when we toured it (years and years ago) was learning about how many people it took to getthe vanderbilts up and going each day! can't remember the exact figure but think it was something like 5 servants for each vanderbilt!!
and loved those taps in the bathroom where you could get running hot salt water!!
have fallen horribly behind in the bloggyhood this month, but going back and skipping all the news from nowhere...the photo posts are all marvelous...ah i wish i had been in the big apple when you were there! looks like the sky and weather gods were with you....
I can see that it does look mausoleum-sih (all that white marble), but I could also imagine a grand wedding party sweeping down those steps!
ReplyDelete(That was 'ish', not 'sih' !!)
ReplyDeleteI have never even been to Newport...but all of this does remind me that I would like to watch The Great Gatsby again.
ReplyDeleteNot a patch on Blenheim.
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