The Elms
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
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, as the Gilded Age was nearing its end, the Berwinds engaged Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer to design a Newport 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. In 1962, The Elms was saved by The Preservation Society of Newport County from almost certain demolition. A National Historic Landmark, The Elms is a fine example of the taste and style of the late Gilded Age. Several scenes from HBO's hit series "The Gilded Age" were filmed in The Elms.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience The Elms and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
229 within 3 miles
Attractions
162 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Torsnary50 contributionsA second-tier mansiĂłn to visitBeen to Newport a few times and toured several mansions, but never had visited The Elms. Good audio-app self tour throughout the visit. Ornate decorations of the early 20th century period. Nice grounds.Visited May 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten May 6, 2023
- tracey kRedmond, Washington646 contributionsGreat Mansion to TourA less crowded alternative to The Breakers, this house checks box if anyone interested in the Gilded Age. This house also permits checking out the grounds. I enjoyed the audio tour, as I did The Breakers, and liked that, because I had paid full price for 1 house, I could upgrade my ticket the next day for $9 and tour a second property. These houses may seem like relics, but they do represent a time and place, and are part of our American history. Well maintained and furnished, the Preservation Society has done a great job.Visited July 2023Traveled soloWritten July 15, 2023
- DisneybusPittsgrove, New Jersey859 contributionsWonderful history lesson with Gilded opulence at every turnThe grounds of The Elms no longer contain elm trees, as they succumbed to Dutch elm disease. Today, the Elms would be better called The Weeping Beeches. Before the tour, get the free user friendly App so you can follow along with your Airpods. As with all the mansions, the history is fascinating. Coal baron Edward Berwind, from Philadelphia, built his new "cottage" because his first Newport residence was too small for entertaining his friends, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The Elms was one of the first in America to be wired for electricity. His wife Sarah would spend twenty summers there, and Edward would commute on weekends from New York. His sister Julia took residence when Sarah died, and was willed Elms upon Edward's passing. In 1961 when Julia died, The Elms was one of the last Newport cottages to be run in the fashion of the Gilded Age. Upon her passing, the estate was sold to a developer who was to demolish it before the Preservation Society stepped in and saved it. Some scenes from "The Gilded Age" were filmed in The Elms. Each room seems to offer more opulence than the previous. After your tour and a visit to the well stocked gift shop, be sure to tour the grounds as it's one of the best.Visited June 2023Written July 18, 2023
- betty0923Newburyport, Massachusetts16 contributionsEnjoyed it more than The Breakers.We liked it better than The Breakers. Trip to Newport with my husband. Bought the duo ticket for The Breakers and a second mansion. Visited Rosecliff as the second and were so disappointed that we upgraded our tickets for a third mansion and went to The Elms. Great choice! It’s a beautiful house which has been carefully restored with period appropriate furnishings including some of the originals. The Newport Mansions app audio tour is very informative and entertaining. The grounds are wonderful with amazing trees. Take the time to walk all around to back of the estate. Be sure to check out the chaise-percee adapted for the flush toilets!Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 29, 2023
- RandyRossRidgetown, Canada11,776 contributionsSo Glad it SurvivedThe Elms is a wonderful house but I think the grounds are the crowning glory here. The 14-acre property with its gardens, its folly and all of the fountains and statues is fantastic. It's hard to believe that this property almost became a shopping center but it seems that only an economic downturn that forced the developer to sell the property to the Preservation Society kept it standing. We would have lost so much! At 31,401 square feet, it is the 19th largest historic house in the United States and the 3rd largest of Newport's "cottages" behind The Breakers and Ochre Court (now the main administration building for Salve Regina University).Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 21, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,899 reviews
Excellent
1,442
Very good
401
Average
46
Poor
7
Terrible
4
Dave D
Norton, MA2,114 contributions
Oct 2021
The Elms House is quite the sight to see. The only downside is, their WiFi can not handle a number of people downloading their app for an audio walkthrough tour. After logging onto their WiFi (as recommended) and downloading their app, it took far too long to THEN download the English audio for the walk through. If you are going to recommend your guests download the app, please update the capacity and speed of your WiFi, or create a separate network just for that.
Other than that, the house is amazing. It really gives you an idea of the vast amount of wealth and opulence there was. You are taken through several rooms ranging from the greenhouse, dining room, breakfast room, kitchens, bedrooms, etc. It is really interesting to see how they lived life back then and what day to day life was like.
Make sure you tour the grounds as well and check out the gardens. You can easily spend a couple hours here!
Other than that, the house is amazing. It really gives you an idea of the vast amount of wealth and opulence there was. You are taken through several rooms ranging from the greenhouse, dining room, breakfast room, kitchens, bedrooms, etc. It is really interesting to see how they lived life back then and what day to day life was like.
Make sure you tour the grounds as well and check out the gardens. You can easily spend a couple hours here!
Written October 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue M
Laconia, NH8 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
The Elms, although not the largest of most opulent “cottage”, was my favorite. The Berwind family collection of artwork, even though it’s only a portion of the original, was fascinating. We downloaded the tour from the Newport Preservation Society ahead of time so we knew what we wanted to see. We also included the Servants Life Tour which I highly recommend. Older children will enjoy. Little ones will like the gardens but it’s not a really kid-friendly place.
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teammilitello
Des Moines, IA741 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
Since this home has less foot traffic than The Breakers, we took our time walking through. Guides in various rooms help explain the history of items. Gift shop at the end of the walk had friendly staff.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Disneybus
Pittsgrove, NJ859 contributions
Jun 2023
The grounds of The Elms no longer contain elm trees, as they succumbed to Dutch elm disease. Today, the Elms would be better called The Weeping Beeches. Before the tour, get the free user friendly App so you can follow along with your Airpods. As with all the mansions, the history is fascinating. Coal baron Edward Berwind, from Philadelphia, built his new "cottage" because his first Newport residence was too small for entertaining his friends, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The Elms was one of the first in America to be wired for electricity. His wife Sarah would spend twenty summers there, and Edward would commute on weekends from New York. His sister Julia took residence when Sarah died, and was willed Elms upon Edward's passing. In 1961 when Julia died, The Elms was one of the last Newport cottages to be run in the fashion of the Gilded Age. Upon her passing, the estate was sold to a developer who was to demolish it before the Preservation Society stepped in and saved it. Some scenes from "The Gilded Age" were filmed in The Elms. Each room seems to offer more opulence than the previous. After your tour and a visit to the well stocked gift shop, be sure to tour the grounds as it's one of the best.
Written July 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve M
Pulaski, TN389 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
This is our fourth and final house that we toured. It is a beautiful house but not as elegant as the other houses in the area. I wish the front did not have all of the trees blocking the beauty. The back of the house is gorgeous but they were doing renovations so scaffolding blocks the beauty of any pictures taken. The inside wasn't what I expected not as pretty. After seeing other houses this is my least favorite.
Written September 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard A
Jakarta, Indonesia2,046 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
The Elm is one of the 3 most commonly visited mansions on Newport. It doesn’t open for visit all year so make sure to check newport mansion website before visiting. I would recommend to join the tour as this is the best way to understand and appreciate the Elm mansion, is slightly different with the Breakers or Marble House where we can just explore them our own. Visit this mansion and join the tour while you’re in Newport!
Written February 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas L
Hartford, CT147 contributions
Jul 2022
The Elms has one of the prettiest facades in Newport. The grounds are beautiful with several weeping beaches. If you have never seen a weeping beach, that alone is worth the tour. The interior unfortunately suffered through the great depression and the 50's and 60's when Newport mansions were neglected, torn down or sold as condos. Fortunately, the Elms was picked up by the Preservation Society before it was torn down but after almost all of the furniture and artwork was sold. The current mansion is a bit threadbare and lacks most of the original furniture. Each room has a card from which one can read descriptions. The descriptions provided very little information not at all like the live guides they used years ago.
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debra B
Arizona287 contributions
Jul 2020 • Friends
The Elms and the Breakers are the only mansions currently open in Newport due to restrictions.
While I would have lived to have the opportunity to see them all, The historical society has done a great job in choosing the Elms as the other home to open.
The grounds are beautiful as well.
Give yourself plenty of time to listen to all the information on the Newport Mansions self guided tour app.
While I would have lived to have the opportunity to see them all, The historical society has done a great job in choosing the Elms as the other home to open.
The grounds are beautiful as well.
Give yourself plenty of time to listen to all the information on the Newport Mansions self guided tour app.
Written July 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tracey k
Redmond, WA646 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
A less crowded alternative to The Breakers, this house checks box if anyone interested in the Gilded Age. This house also permits checking out the grounds. I enjoyed the audio tour, as I did The Breakers, and liked that, because I had paid full price for 1 house, I could upgrade my ticket the next day for $9 and tour a second property. These houses may seem like relics, but they do represent a time and place, and are part of our American history. Well maintained and furnished, the Preservation Society has done a great job.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
boooche
Hudson, NH77 contributions
Jun 2020
We took the
Servants Life tour and it was very interesting to see how they lived and worked. Our guide was very informative and you could tell she like her job. Wear good walking shoes as you climb up to the 3rd floor then down to the sub basement (5 floors in all).
Written July 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MM2
Forest Hills, NY2 contributions
Is there a last tour of the season? It opened in November does it close anytime soon?
carrabinieri
Media, PA186 contributions
The mansions are open all year. There are different seasons. Nov 4 thru Jan 1 is Christmas season. The mansions are closed Thanksgiving day and Christmas Day. Some mansions open at 9, others at 10. Check out the Newport mansions official web site and view the full schedule of events
Nancy B
North Dakota
Approx how long is the Elms Tour with servants quarters?
Jennifer P
Lawrenceville, NJ198 contributions
1.5 hours all in.
Looly T
New York, New York, United States125 contributions
First time visiting Rhode Island. Is the marble, the breaker and this one all under Newport mansion? Which ticket should we purchase
Barry S
17 contributions
My wife and I visited Newport, RI last October with another couple. We joined the "The Preservation Society of Newport County" here on the internet before we left and it saved us a bundle of dollars and got us into all the mansions we wanted to see. It's a great idea to do this and save money with entry fees while joining a great cause!!! Highly recommend you do this! There are some additional tickets for other locations but this one gets you the best for your money!!! Give it a shot!!! Cheers, Barry
Kathryn L
New York, United States1 contribution
If you purchase the servants tour ticket, do you also need to purchase a ticket for the regular tour? Or are you allowed to roam at-will after the servants tour concludes and listen to the self-guided regular tour?
Brenda C
Maidstone, UK50 contributions
We bought a 3 house ticket and went around the Elms ourselves following the audio route
Al F
Loveland, CO65 contributions
We will be staying in Newport. Is there an audio tour of the Elms available? If so, what does it cost, and where would I purchase it for my wife and I? Thanks!
happytraveler177
San Diego, CA34 contributions
The audio tour is handed out after you pay an entrance fee. The audio is free.
Cecilia1012
Rockport, TX53 contributions
How long is the Servant's Tour?
Vilaas
Jodhpur, India827 contributions
It depends on you,if you want do it on your own through the audio aid...you can linger on taking the history slowly....anything between and hour or two...all depends on yr own interest.
svswan
Hershey, PA2 contributions
Is the house tour of the Elms wheel chair accessible?
acarneiro
Newport, RI
Hi - The Elms is partially wheelchair accessible. It has a small elevator. The elevator is 44 inches deep and 38 inches wide. The height of the wheel chair should not exceed 37 inches.
While the front door is not accessible, there is access via a basement level entrance to the elevator, which will bring you up to the main foyer on the 1st floor, and also to the 2nd floor for the regular admission audio tour.
The Servant Life Tour, however, is only partially accessible, in that the elevator will take you to the basement and to the 3rd floor staff quarters. However, there is no elevator access to the sub-basement to see the coal tunnel and boiler room, nor to the roof.
I hope this is helpful.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingThe Elms - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Elms
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience The Elms:
- Private Day Trip From Boston to the Newport Mansions (From $880.48)
- Newport Gilded Age Mansions Trolley Tour with Breakers Admission (From $46.25)
- Newport RI Mansions Scenic Trolley Tour (Ages 5+ only) (From $26.75)
- Scenic Newport, RI Self-Driving Audio Tour (From $14.99)
- Ocean Drive Historic District: A Newport Self-Guided Driving Tour (From $9.99)
- Hotels near The Elms:
- (0.15 mi) Ivy Lodge
- (0.10 mi) Wayside Guest House
- (0.16 mi) Artful Lodger Inn
- (0.30 mi) Samuel Durfee House
- (0.15 mi) In Town, Water Views And Parking
- Restaurants near The Elms:
- (0.29 mi) Cru Cafe
- (0.31 mi) Chanterelle Restaurant
- (0.37 mi) Mamma Luisa Ristorante Italiano
- (0.42 mi) Jo's American Bistro
- (0.38 mi) Annies