“The Gilded Age” private tour is back this weekend and I couldn’t be more excited. I attended the last one and concluded that it’s my absolute favorite tour. The excursion is a dream for fans of the beloved HBO series, now heading into Season 3. Meticulously curated, it’s a behind-the-scenes experience that instantly transports you into the opulent world of “The Gilded Age.”
Much of that has to do with the charismatic tour guide, Raymond Roy, a veteran docent who’s been with the Preservation Society of Newport for decades. He runs the docent program: he should since he began the program in the first place! His inherent knowledge of the mansions has been developed over a long time, he pretty much knows everything there is to know about these properties and lets the copious details just fly off the cuff. I couldn’t have asked for a better host.
Roy’s also a fan of Julian Fellowes’s Emmy-winning historical drama, and he has transformed the tour of the mansions into one that blends their local history and architecture with fine-tuned detail on each of the rooms where “Gilded Age” was filmed. Roy’s a conversational storyteller, and his deep knowledge of Newport’s history, combined with a delightful sense of humor, brought each room to life. Plus, he enjoys the opportunity to show off his spot-on impression of Nathan Lane’s character, Ward McAllister, which cracked up my group. Having him made the experience both educational and entertaining.
The tour picked up our group at the Gateway Transportation Center in a private van, which was very comfortable and convenient. The day couldn’t have been more beautiful: picture perfect Newport with temperate weather and blue skies. Bertha Russell would have been proud.
We were whisked off to the first stop on our agenda, The Elms. I can’t believe I had never visited this mansion before, but I hadn’t (for some reason, I had always focused on the other Preservation properties). And now I’m glad, because this is the best way to take in that gilded home. We toured the beautifully designed grounds and viewed the stunning portrait that inspired the one of Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon, recently so magnificent in “White Lotus”), among many fun details from the show.
We also visited Marble House, where the Vanderbilt rooms have been transformed into the Russell family’s chambers. In addition to the bedrooms, other interiors you’re likely to recognize include the dining room for Bertha’s triumphant Duke of Buckingham dinner and the kitchen, which was used in filming Mrs. Astor’s Newport kitchen.
Part of the allure of a private tour is the chance to discover places anew, and in the case of Chateau-Sur-Mer I was pleasantly surprised. In all honesty I’ve found Chateau to be unimpressive in the past, but the show newly peaked my interest since the façade (which I’ve thought of as the best part) was used as Mrs. Astor’s cottage exterior (her actual house, Beecham, btw, is not open to the public since it’s owned by Larry Ellison, one of many houses he has in the area).
But listening to Roy about the highlights of the interior really opened my eyes to much of the detail I had previously overlooked. A High Victorian home for the Whetmores, I had always viewed the mansion’s interior as rather dark and foreboding (unlike The Breakers, which radiates light throughout), but our host encouraged me to look closely at some of the features. I must say that I have now developed a fascination for the ethereal “Tree of Life” mural that permeates Stair Hall (and seems to stretch on forever as you look up) and the fascinating Italianate woodwork that highlights the rooms. I am converted about this place’s beauty. Several scenes were filmed here, including Mrs. Fish’s doll tea party and bedrooms for the van Rhijn and Morris households.
We also got to enjoy specially designed cookies and Dell’s lemonade (of course!) on the expansive porch. Relaxing on a gorgeous day with cookies and lemonade had me imagining the scene of one of the most memorable parties in Newport’s history, the “Fete Champetre,” an elaborate country picnic for more than 2,000 guests held in 1857 that took place on the Chateau grounds.
The last stop was The Breakers, of course, the crown jewel of Bellevue Avenue. The interiors of Newport’s “grandest cottage” have served as the backdrop for several scenes throughout the seasons of “Gilded Age.” The grand pool table in the Billiard Room of the Vanderbilt home was even used in one of the business scenes with George Russell. The glamorous ballroom also provided the grand background for Gladys Russell’s debutante ball and Bertha’s famous social triumph.
I found the entire tour utterly charming. If you’re a fan of the show, “Inside the Gilded Age” tour is for you. Even if you’re not a fan, this tour’s for you: it really is the best way to see the mansions. The special, limited tour is being offered on Fridays only, from May 2 through June 27, 2025, between 1 p. m. and 5 p.m. To ensure an intimate experience, each tour is capped at 12 guests.
Season 3 of “The Gilded Age” will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2025. It is expected to start airing on HBO sometime afterwards (not announced yet, but sometime in June, most likely). If you go on the Preservation Society tour, it will be so much fun looking for local details on the show. Whether you’re a history buff, architecture enthusiast, or a fan of the HBO series, this tour is an experience not to be missed.For more information, please visit https://www.newportmansions.org/events/inside-the-gilded-age-tour/.
