Beechwood

Beechwood is a Renaissance Revival mansion along Bellevue Avenue featuring over 50 rooms decorated with imported wallpaper, fine furnishings, and detailed woodwork characteristic of the late 1800s. The home includes a grand ballroom, formal reception areas, and ornate fireplaces throughout its living spaces.

The property was acquired in 1880 by William Backhouse Astor Jr., who commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to redesign the residence extensively. These renovations transformed it into a setting suitable for the grand social events that defined the era.

During the Gilded Age, this mansion served as a gathering place for Newport's wealthy elite, reflecting the social customs and luxury of the era. The rooms show how the upper class entertained and displayed their wealth through refined gatherings.

Visitors can explore both the family's private quarters and the servants' areas, offering a complete picture of daily life in a grand residence. This layout reveals how different social groups lived and worked within the same household during that period.

The servants' areas were designed with the same attention as the reception rooms, featuring separate staircases, corridors, and kitchens that reveal how complex household management was. These spaces were rarely seen by guests and offer a rare look at the hidden aspects of wealthy life.