The Largest Private Ballroom in Newport - Rosecliff

Jun 3

Rosecliff was commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa “Tessie” Fair Oelrichs and her husband, Hermann, and was built between 1898 and 1902. Flamboyant architect, Sanford White of McKim, Mead & White, designed the house modeled after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat at Versailles. The mansion is clad in white terracotta, adorned with flowers and musical instruments. Jules Allard and Sons of Paris were commissioned to do the interior decoration.

Tessie was described as a brassy Irish beauty with new money and is said to have thrown herself into the social scene with tremendous gusto, becoming with Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish and Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont, one of three Newport hostesses. Tessie’s social pride and joy was being able to play ping pong and skate on a roller rink. When Tessie died in 1926, her son Hermann Jr. inherited Rosecliff. By the 1940’s, the Newport mansions were considered white elephants and too costly to maintain. Hermann sold off the mansion and most of the contents at auction.

The next and last private owners of Rosecliff were J. Edgar Monroe and his wife Louise. In 1971, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe donated the entire estate, with its contents, and a $2 million operating endowment to the Preservation Society of Newport County.

Here is what caught my eye. I hope you enjoy!

Do you like the images posted?
Click here to explore the shop.

Sanford White designed the sweeping “sweetheart” heart-shaped double staircase.

Carved French limestone makes up the base of this Gothic-style fireplace in the salon.

Here is the French Renaissance-style salon with a painting of Tessie on the right.

Beautiful chandelier in the salon

The enormous ballroom measures 40’ x 80’ with 22’ high ceilings.

The plaster ceiling details of the Ballroom

The plaster detail of the Ballroom ceiling

The chandelier in the ballroom

The wood-paneled library is where the gentlemen would come to smoke cigars.

The dining room hosted dinner parties with up to 200 guests and as many as twelve courses.

Dining room fireplace detail

Austrian stove heater in the dining room

Another shot of the “sweetheart” staircase

The dual staircase looking down from the second floor

The dressing area of the luxurious bathroom

A garden bench with the house as a backdrop

The front facade of the ballroom

A view of the front facade and fountains

On the right of the main entrance is a beautiful rose garden.

Another view of the ballroom facade

Arches and fountain

Lady in the Rose Garden

You can also see blogs about other Newport Gilded Age Mansions like Marble House, The Elms, Belcourt, The Breakers and Newport.

What you should know:

The guided tours use the Newport Mansions audio tour app. For the best tour experience, download the app before arriving, and remember your ear buds. Guests without smart devices will be provided a paper tour script.
Restrooms are available.
There is free parking available at all mansions.
Tickets can be bought on-line or in person.
There are self-guided mansion and garden tours.
It’s open seasonally; check the website for days and hours of operation.
There are a few house and garden tour options.
You could spend a couple of hours to an entire day.

Location:

548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840

For more information: Rosecliff Mansion