Ochre Court, French-style villa in Newport, Rhode Island
Ochre Court is a French-style villa built from white limestone with Gothic elements, high slate roofs, and a central Great Hall topped by a three-story domed ceiling. The mansion contains more than 70 rooms and rises prominently from the Newport coastline with ornate stone work throughout.
New York banker Ogden Goelet commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design this mansion in 1892 as one of the era's most expensive building projects. It was later adapted to serve as the administrative center for Salve Regina University, transforming its original purpose.
The rooms display French architectural elements with carved emblems, classical ceiling paintings, and stained glass that echo Loire Valley estates. These details throughout the interior reflect how European design shaped American architecture during the Gilded Age.
The mansion is located on a seafront property and now serves as a university's administrative center, making it accessible to visitors on weekdays during the school year. Plan time to explore the rooms fully, as the interiors are detailed and spread across multiple levels.
During its eight-week summer season, the Goelet family employed a large household staff including specialized gardeners and coachmen to maintain the sprawling estate. This level of staffing reveals the enormous work required to run such grand properties during that era.
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