Step back in time with this self-guided tour through the gilded ages of Rhode Island history.  Help us roam the majestic hallways and hike the massive staircases as we experience the lavish lifestyles of yesteryear and some of the most stunning architecture Rhode island has to offer.

The Elms was the summer residence of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind of Philadelphia and New York. Mr. Berwind made his fortune in the coal industry. In 1898, the Berwinds engaged Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer to design a house modeled after the mid-18th century French chateau d'Asnieres (c.1750) outside Paris.

Construction of The Elms was completed in 1901 at a cost reported at approximately $1.4 million. The interiors and furnishings were designed by Allard and Sons of Paris and were the setting for the Berwinds' collection of Renaissance ceramics, 18th-century French and Venetian paintings, and Oriental jades

Parents and siblings need tickets. This is not a drop-off event.

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Audio Tours

To listen to the self-guided tour, group members must bring their own smart device with earbuds/headsets and download the tour from the Newport Mansions app. Visitors may download the app and download the tour in advance (recommended) or on the property. Should you not have earbuds/headsets please keep the volume on low. Additionally, we have printed scripts available and Preservation Society staff always welcome your questions. Our staff looks forward to interacting with your group passengers so please encourage them to ask questions.