Rough Point facts for kids
Rough Point is a famous old house in Newport, Rhode Island. It's one of the big, fancy homes built during the Gilded Age. Today, it's a museum that you can visit.
This beautiful house was designed by architects Peabody & Stearns. It was built for Frederick William Vanderbilt. Construction started in 1887 and finished in 1892. The house is made of red sandstone and granite. It sits on Bellevue Avenue, right next to the Newport Cliff Walk. From there, you can see the amazing Atlantic Ocean. The first gardens were planned by Frederick Law Olmsted’s company.
The last person to own Rough Point was Doris Duke. Now, the Newport Restoration Foundation takes care of it. They keep it open for everyone to enjoy.
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History of Rough Point
In 1894, the Vanderbilts started renting out Rough Point for the summer. A man named William Bateman Leeds Sr. rented the house in 1904 and 1905. He was known as the ‘Tinplate King’ because he owned a big company that made tin plates.
Mr. Leeds bought the 10-acre estate in 1906. After he passed away in 1908, his wife, Nancy Leeds, hired John Russell Pope. He made some changes to the outside of the house. She owned Rough Point until 1922. Her son, William Bateman Leeds Jr., later married Princess Xenia Georgievna of Russia.
The Duke Family Takes Over
In 1922, James Buchanan Duke bought Rough Point. He was very wealthy from electric power and tobacco businesses. He also helped start Duke University. James and his second wife, Nanaline, bought the house. They hired architect Horace Trumbauer to help update it. Two new sections were added to the house. Nanaline also hired a design company called White Allom. They made the dark rooms inside the house much brighter.
James Duke passed away in 1925. He left his huge fortune and several homes to his only child, 12-year-old Doris Duke. Rough Point became one of Doris's favorite places. She loved its amazing location by the rocky coast. Doris had her memorable debutante ball at the estate in 1929. This was a special party to introduce her to society.
Doris Duke kept spending her summers at Rough Point. But after a big storm called the New England Hurricane of 1938, her visits became less often. This was also true when World War II started. In the early 1950s, Doris Duke moved to New York City. She even emptied Rough Point of all its furniture.
Rough Point Becomes a Home Again
By 1958, Doris Duke started visiting Newport more often. She decided to furnish Rough Point again. In 1958 and 1959, she bought new art and antiques for the house. She mixed these new items with old family treasures. Rough Point became one of Doris Duke's most loved homes. She lived there from May to November most years. She also kept collecting items for the house during her many travels.
In 1966, a sad accident happened at the estate. Doris Duke and her interior designer, Eduardo Tirella, were leaving Rough Point. Mr. Tirella got out of the car to open the front gates. Doris Duke moved to the driver's seat. She accidentally pressed the gas pedal, and the car moved forward. Mr. Tirella was hit by the car and tragically passed away. The police said it was an accident.
During Hurricane Bob in 1991, the house's solarium was used as a shelter. It protected Princess and Baby, Doris Duke's two pet Bactrian camels. These camels were gifts from a wealthy businessman named Adnan Khashoggi. The camels would spend their summers in Newport when Doris Duke was there. She often bought them many peanut butter cookies as treats. Many people walking on the Cliff Walk were surprised to see Princess and Baby roaming the grounds.
Rough Point has a special mix of grandness and a cozy, homey feeling. The house has stayed just as Doris Duke left it since she passed away in 1993. The way the house was changed and made bigger by architect Trumbauer was very skillful. Doris was one of the last wealthy heiresses from the Gilded Age in Newport. While she owned the house, it was full of priceless old items. But interestingly, the curtains on her bed were bought at JC Penney! The house also has famous paintings by artists like Gainsborough, Van Dyck, and Renoir.
Gardens and Produce
When Doris Duke stayed at Rough Point, the staff would pick fresh vegetables every day. These vegetables were used for cooking. Each spring, vegetables and flowers were sent from the greenhouses at Duke Farms in New Jersey. They were then planted at Rough Point.
A list of historical plants at Rough Point includes many vegetables. These were artichoke, squash, cabbage, lettuce, onions, peppers, spinach, eggplant, beans, okra, and cucumbers. There was also a long list of herbs. These included basil, chamomile, chives, dill, fennel, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, spearmint, tarragon, borage, and lovage.
Rough Point Today
Doris Duke owned the property until she passed away in 1993. After some legal matters, it opened to the public as a museum in 2000. The Newport Restoration Foundation owns and runs it now. You can take tours from May until November. Since 2003, there has been a special exhibit each year. It might show clothing, jewelry, silver, or furniture from the house.
See also
In Spanish: Rough Point para niños
