What’sUpNewp and other media were afforded an unprecedented tour of The Breakers Third Floor, the first time the space has been publicly viewed in 129 years. Trudy Cox, The Preservation Society of Newport County CEO greeted press and indicated that the space is largely non-furnished and is an “unbelievable space”. The goal is to tell a full story of The Vanderbilts and this space with a goal of later opening the attic as well.
She indicated it is a huge building with 29 servants room and hopes to convey what it’d be like to work this space. Cox indicated that it has been “a longstanding dream” to open this space.
Leslie B. Jones, Director of Museum Affairs and Chief Curator at The Preservation Society of Newport County offered the tour which was highly detailed and informative. Tours will be open to the public beginning Monday, June 24, 2024 and will only accommodate 10 guests daily at 3:30 PM.
Third floor of The Breakers to open to the public for the first time
The tour will begin just inside the main door in The Gentleman’s Reception Room with a Getting Oriented opener which will give a background of the family for a truer sense of the experience of the family over time. The Reception Room has had much work done where the molded plaster is painted to look like wood. Intensive cleaning of wood paneling on the walls and conservation of gold leaf on original bead work has been done.
It was noted that the original Breakers burned in 1892. The present Breakers was a monumental undertaking being built in 1893-95. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt in the Renaissance Revival style; the interior decor was by Jules Allard and Sons who designed the first floor and Ogden Codman Jr. designing the second and third floors.
Guests will then climb the 77 steps to the third floor. Ms. Jones indicated that all the windows have been fixed and ventilation is being studied. No photos will be allowed. She explained that “For Museum professionals this is a ‘treasure box’. A room virtually untouched since 1895.” Codman’s Original designs were discovered at Metropolitan Museum of Art where his design intention and color scheme is visible in the drawings.
The goal is to show that there’s huge work that goes into restoration. This will be a limited-run tour. In time a full guided tour is envisioned reflecting a virtual timeline 1895 – 2017 as one walks through showing what is happening in history and what has happened in the house.
Attention to detail is highly evident and every effort to celebrate every aspect of the home is being taken. Textile studies by Indianapolis Museum of Art specialty lab for textile studies including thread counts is undergone to recreate appropriate wall coverings. Sconces are to be removed and reworked as they were originally gas only on 3rd floor. Original quarter dawn oak floors, lightly sanded and refinished are seen and some floors are not fully restored, only a light coating of wax to give interpretation as more representing 20h century pieces. Ms. Jones noted that the family has tagged and labeled everything and left hints about the battery operation of the chandeliers. “It’s our Privilege and duty to make sure we are preserving all these details”.
This certainly is a remarkable space and at times felt like a labyrinth. There are incredible communication systems in the walls designed to convey the needs and desires of the family for service. This is a tour that is ideal for students of design and curious about the rich and famous but on another level. Considering the forethought to design and manufacture this space is daunting. Such is now the task of the Preservation Society as they too have spent years curating the exhibit as it is now offered. This is a work in progress to be measured in years. It truly is an experience to behold, only without the gold and dazzle known to be representative of the Vanderbilt name.
