Escape: The House Cornelius II Built
We were still gushing over the charm of Block Island the following morning when we decided to go back to Rhode Island. This time, we were heading to Ochre Avenue in the historic Newport County 30 miles south of Providence to be in awe with The Breakers. And boy, it did not disappoint. The Breakers was built in the style of Le Gout Rothschild during the Gilded Age of the nineteenth century when Cornelius Vanderbilt II was considered one of the major industrialists of the country. Richard Morris Hunt, known for his works of famous New York landmarks such as the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and facade of Metropolitan Museum of Art, was commissioned to design the ostentatious five-story, 70-room mansion. Jules Allard and Sons and Ogden Codman Jr. were responsible for the interior decoration. The highlight of the whole house was the central Great Hall, the Dining Room with its grand twin chandeliers, the skylight stained glass by John Lafarge and the grand staircase.
Seeing The Breakers made me watch Downton Abbey, the closest thing that would explain how a big summer house like this would function. But I would discuss that in a separate entry. Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed inside the house. But this house is definitely a sight to behold, a grand testament to a lavish lifestyle many have dreamt of but only a few will get to experience.
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