Chateau-sur-Mer facts for kids
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Chateau-sur-Mer
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Chateau-sur-Mer, Newport, Rhode Island.
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | 474 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island |
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| Area | 17 acres (69,000 m2) |
| Built | 1851 |
| Architect | Seth C. Bradford (construction) Richard Morris Hunt (renovations) Ogden Codman, Jr. (design) |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival |
| Part of | Bellevue Avenue Historic District (ID72000023) |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000002 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 8, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | February 17, 2006 |
| Designated NHLDCP | December 8, 1972 |
Chateau-sur-Mer is a famous mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. It was one of the first very large homes built on Bellevue Avenue during the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was a time in American history (roughly 1870s-1900s) when some people became very rich, and they built huge, fancy houses.
Today, Chateau-sur-Mer is owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County. It is open to the public as a museum. This grand house was the most impressive home in Newport until the Vanderbilt family built their even bigger houses in the 1890s. In 2006, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a place recognized by the U.S. government as being very important to American history.
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About Chateau-sur-Mer
Chateau-sur-Mer was finished in 1852. It was built as an Italianate villa for William Shepard Wetmore. He was a successful merchant who traded goods with China. The house was designed and built by Seth C. Bradford. It is made from strong Fall River Granite. This mansion is known for its beautiful Victorian style. You can see this style in its architecture, furniture, wallpapers, and decorations.
William Wetmore passed away in 1862 at Chateau-sur-Mer. He left most of his money to his son, George Peabody Wetmore. George married Edith Keteltas in 1869.
Changes to the Mansion
In the 1870s, the Wetmores traveled to Europe for a long time. While they were away, they hired architect Richard Morris Hunt to update their home. He remodeled the house in the French Second Empire style. This means Chateau-sur-Mer shows many different design trends from the late 1800s.
Hunt made the house much larger. He added a new three-story section and a covered entrance for carriages. He also added a tall, four-story tower with a sloped roof. The building where carriages were kept was also made bigger. Hunt even designed the main gate of the estate. It looks a bit like ancient Greek buildings, but its posts are shaped like Egyptian obelisks.
Inside the Mansion
The most amazing part of the mansion's inside is its great hall. This huge room is three stories tall, with a ceiling that is 45-foot (14 m) high. It also has wide balconies.
The billiard room is designed in the Eastlake style. This style uses strong, simple wooden shapes. You can see oak beams arranged in a diagonal pattern on the ceiling. The floor has a special herringbone pattern.
The library has an Italianate design. It was actually built in Italy, then taken apart and shipped to Newport. The marble hallway was once the main entrance to the house. It has many different colors of marble. In 1920, this entrance was closed off and replaced with a bay window.
The green room was a special area for ladies to meet. It was designed in 1900 by Ogden Codman, Jr. in the Louis XV style. The ballroom is decorated with sparkling crystal chandeliers and beautiful plasterwork. It is one of the few rooms that Richard Morris Hunt did not change much. The dining room is in the Renaissance Revival style and was also built in Italy.
A Year-Round Home
Chateau-sur-Mer was special because it was one of the few Newport "cottages" (as these mansions were called) that was used all year. Most other mansions were only used during the summer. The Wetmores were a New England family and lived in Newport full-time.
George Wetmore was very involved in Rhode Island politics. He was a member of the Electoral College in 1880 and 1884. The Electoral College is a group of people who officially elect the President and Vice President of the United States. George was elected Governor of Rhode Island in 1885 and again in 1886. Later, he was elected to the United States Senate in 1894, where he served until 1913.
Becoming a Museum
Chateau-sur-Mer was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1968. This is a list of places important to American history. In 1969, the Preservation Society of Newport County bought the house. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006.
The old carriage house and stables of the estate are now owned by Salve Regina University. They are being updated to become a center for art and preservation called the Antone Center.
See also
- List of Gilded Age mansions
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Rhode Island
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Newport County, Rhode Island
Images for kids
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The monkey seat and Moon Gate at Chateau-Sur-Mer
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Weeping European Beech at Chateau-Sur-Mer
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Turkey Oak at Chateau-Sur-Mer
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Chateau Sur Mer
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Chateau sur Mer
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Chateau-sur-Mer front
