Rosecliff facts for kids
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Rosecliff
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | 548 Bellevue Ave., Newport, Rhode Island |
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| Area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Built | 1898-1902 |
| Architect | Stanford White McKim, Mead & White |
| Architectural style | French Baroque Revival |
| Part of | Bellevue Avenue Historic District (ID72000023) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000059 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 6, 1973 |
| Designated NHLDCP | December 8, 1972 |
Rosecliff is a beautiful old mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. It was built a long time ago, during a period called the Gilded Age. Today, you can visit Rosecliff as a historic house museum. It's also known as the Hermann Oelrichs House or the J. Edgar Monroe House.
The mansion was built between 1898 and 1902. It was owned by Theresa Fair Oelrichs, who was very wealthy. Her father, James G. Fair, found a lot of silver in Nevada. Theresa and her husband, Hermann Oelrichs, bought the land in 1891. They wanted a big summer home for parties.
They hired a famous architecture firm called McKim, Mead, and White. The main architect, Stanford White, designed Rosecliff. He based it on the Grand Trianon palace at Versailles in France. Rosecliff is smaller, but it has similar arched windows and columns. It also has a hidden third floor for servants.
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Building Rosecliff: A Grand Design
The architects, McKim, Mead, and White, started work in 1898. A company called Jules Allard and Sons decorated the inside. Building was slow because of a cold winter.
Mrs. Oelrichs was very excited to move in. She even moved in July 1900, before the house was finished! She wanted to host a big party in August. The house was finally completed in 1902.
Rosecliff is made of brick, covered in white terracotta tiles. Stanford White designed the rooms so that you could see through many doorways. This created amazing views inside the house.
Inside Rosecliff: Rooms for Parties
The main part of the house has a huge ballroom. It was designed to be Newport's largest ballroom, measuring about 40 by 80 feet. It has tall columns and arched windows, just like the outside. French doors lead from the ballroom to a terrace and a garden with a fountain.
In one wing of the house, there's a dining room and a billiard room. These rooms are separated by a marble hallway. The kitchens were hidden below ground. The main entrance is in the opposite wing. It leads to a grand Stair Hall with a beautiful staircase.
Beyond the Stair Hall is the Salon. This room was once decorated with tapestries. It has a unique Gothic-style fireplace made of Caen stone.
Upstairs, there are three large bedrooms and many guest rooms. Each room has its own bathroom. There are also hidden service stairs for the staff.
Mrs. Oelrichs loved to host parties. Her most famous party was the "Bal blanc" (White Ball) in 1904. Everything at this party was white and silver. Mrs. Oelrichs passed away in 1926. Her funeral was held in the "beautiful blue and gold tapestry room" at Rosecliff.
The Monroe Family at Rosecliff
After Mrs. Oelrichs, her son, Hermann Oelrichs, Jr., owned Rosecliff until 1941. Then, the house was sold a few times. In 1947, Mr. and Mrs. J. Edgar Monroe bought it. They were from New Orleans.
The Monroes came to Newport every summer to escape the heat. They were known for their big parties at Rosecliff. Many of their parties had a Mardi Gras theme, and they loved to dress up in costumes. Unlike Mrs. Oelrichs' formal parties, the Monroes' parties were relaxed and fun.
In 1971, the Monroes gave Rosecliff to the Preservation Society of Newport County. They also gave money to help run it. The society opened Rosecliff to the public for tours. Mr. Monroe often returned for charity events until he passed away in 1991.
Did you know? The "American Beauty Rose" flower was created by an earlier owner of the property, George Bancroft, and his gardener.
Rosecliff in Movies and TV
Rosecliff is so beautiful that it has been used in many movies and TV shows!
- The ballroom was used in the 1974 movie The Great Gatsby.
- Other movies filmed there include The Betsy, High Society, True Lies, and Amistad.
In 2017, the TV show Antiques Roadshow filmed three episodes at Rosecliff. About 3,000 people came to have their old items valued. Even though a hurricane caused some rain, most of the appraisals happened inside the mansion or in tents. These episodes first aired in May 2018.
See also
- Peter Duchin
- Baroque Revival architecture
- List of Gilded Age mansions
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Newport County, Rhode Island
