Bellevue Avenue Historic District facts for kids
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Bellevue Avenue Historic District
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South view down Bellevue
from Vernon Court, 2008 |
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Newport, RI |
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| Area | 606 acres (242 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Mixed (more than two styles from different periods) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000023 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1972 |
| Designated NHLD | May 11, 1976 |
The Bellevue Avenue Historic District is a special area in Newport, Rhode Island. It's famous for its many huge, fancy houses called mansions. These homes were built around 100 years ago by very rich families who came to Newport for summer vacations. Think of families like the Vanderbilt family and Astor family! Many of these mansions show off amazing and new architectural styles from that time.
This area was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976. This means it's a really important place in American history. Some of the mansions here are also National Historic Landmarks on their own. Many of them are now open to the public as museums. This makes the district one of Newport's most popular places to visit.
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What is the Bellevue Avenue Historic District like?
This historic district covers a large area, about 606 acres (242 hectares). It stretches from the ocean on one side to busy streets on the other. Bellevue Avenue itself is a long street, over 2 miles (3.2 km) long, that runs right through the middle of the district.
Most of the buildings here are homes, or were once homes. Many of the old mansions are now historic house museums. For example, Vernon Court is home to the National Museum of American Illustration. Another, Belcourt Castle, is a private museum. Many others are owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County, which helps protect old buildings. Salve Regina University is also in this district, with some historic buildings on its campus.
You'll find a few shops near the Newport Casino at the north end of the district. There are also some small parks, like the Frederick Law Olmsted Arboretum and Rovensky Park. Many of the huge mansions sit on very large pieces of land, which means there's lots of open, green space in the district.
When did Bellevue Avenue become famous?
For a long time, most of Newport grew around its port, where ships came and went. But in the early 1800s, summer visitors started to love the cool ocean breezes and amazing views. They began building smaller "cottages" on the higher ground where Bellevue Avenue is now.
In 1839, a man named George Noble Jones built Kingscote. This was a Gothic Revival style house and is seen as the first of Newport's grand summer homes. Building slowed down during the Civil War. But after the war, during a time of great wealth called the Gilded Age, building picked up again. Houses became even bigger and showed off new styles.
For example, Chateau-sur-Mer was built in 1851 as a year-round home. It was later made even bigger in the 1880s. The Newport Casino and the Isaac Bell House helped start the "Shingle Style" of architecture. This style used wood shingles on the outside instead of flat wooden boards.
More and more rich families came to Newport in the summers. This changed the architecture again. William Kissam Vanderbilt's Marble House, built in 1888, was a huge change. It was made of stone and was built in the Beaux Arts style. It set a new standard for how big and grand a house could be. A few years later, his brother Cornelius Vanderbilt II spent a record $7 million on The Breakers. This mansion sits right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The Astor family also made their home, Beechwood, much larger.
These amazing houses made Newport famous for wealth and fun in the early 1900s. Sports like tennis and sailing became popular here. The Casino hosted early tennis tournaments that later became the US Open. The America's Cup sailing races also took place nearby.
When the Great Depression hit, some families lost money. They started giving their houses to the public or to groups like the Preservation Society of Newport County. This helped keep the mansions safe.
After World War II, more mansions became museums and opened for tours. The International Tennis Hall of Fame opened in the Casino in 1955. In 1962, The Elms was sold. It was the last mansion still owned by its original family. This marked the end of the "resort era" where families lived in these homes all summer.
People in Newport realized how important these historic buildings were for tourism. In 1972, the city asked the National Park Service to combine several smaller historic areas into the larger Bellevue Avenue district we see today. Four years later, it became a National Historic Landmark District. These mansions and museums still attract many visitors to Newport today.
What are some famous buildings in the district?
The rich families who built these mansions hired the very best architects of their time. Famous architects like Richard Upjohn, Richard Morris Hunt, and McKim, Mead and White designed many of these incredible homes. The district shows how these architects' styles changed over time.
Eight buildings in the district are so important that they are also National Historic Landmarks on their own. Many of them are open for tours.
National Historic Landmarks in the District
- Isaac Bell House: This was the first house built in the "Shingle Style."
- The Breakers: This huge, Italian Renaissance-style home belonged to the Vanderbilt family. It's Newport's most famous mansion and a symbol of the Gilded Age.
- Chateau-sur-Mer: Built in 1851, this mansion was later greatly expanded. It's considered one of the first great Newport mansions.
- The Elms: Designed for a coal owner, this mansion was one of the first homes to have electricity. It looks like a French castle.
- Kingscote: This 1839 Gothic Revival "cottage" was the first large house built for a summer resident in Newport.
- Marble House: Designed for William Kissam Vanderbilt, this was one of the first stone mansions. It started the trend of building very large homes in Newport.
- Newport Casino: This is the only non-residential building here that is a National Historic Landmark. It was one of the first American social clubs to include sports facilities.
- William Watts Sherman House: This house is considered one of the best works by architect Henry Hobson Richardson. It helped inspire the Shingle Style.
Other Important Properties
- Beechwood: This was the Newport home of the Astor family. It used to be a "living museum" where actors played the family, but now it's privately owned.
- Belcourt Castle: This summer home was built for Oliver Belmont. It combines many different architectural styles.
- Rosecliff: This mansion looks like a part of the Palace of Versailles in France. It was built for a silver heiress.
- Vernon Court: This home looks like a French chateau. Today, it's home to the National Museum of American Illustration.
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Newport Casino
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Rosecliff
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How is the district protected?
To keep the district looking historic, the city created the Historic District Commission (HDC). This group of nine citizens helps watch over all of Newport's historic districts.
If someone wants to make big changes to the outside of a building in the district, they must get approval from the HDC. The HDC makes sure any changes fit with the historic look of the area.
Images for kids
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Kingscote, the first Newport summer mansion
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Newport Casino
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Ochre Court
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