Inside Newport RI's By The Sea Mansion: Secrets And Splendor
By the Sea Mansion Newport RI: The Legend Unveiled
By the Sea Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, stands as one of the earliest grand summer "cottages" built in 1860 for Caroline Perry Belmont and her husband, August Belmont, on a 14-acre oceanfront estate off Bellevue Avenue. This Italianate villa with a French mansard roof marked the shift from Saratoga Springs to Newport as the elite's preferred summer retreat, ushering in an era of opulent seaside architecture. Constructed for $47,000 after the Belmonts purchased a farm next to Caroline's father Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry's property, it hosted generations of high society until its eventual decline and sales in the mid-20th century.
Historical Origins
Construction of By the Sea began in 1860 when the Belmonts, disillusioned with Saratoga's commercialization, sought a serene coastal escape. Caroline Belmont, daughter of naval hero Commodore Perry, commissioned her cousin George Champlin Mason Sr. to design the three-story mansion featuring a semi-circular portico and bracketed verandah trim. The estate's location on Bellevue Avenue positioned it among Newport's pioneering summer homes, predating the Vanderbilt-era palaces by decades.
August Belmont, a powerful banker and founder of the Democratic National Committee, infused the project with his vast wealth from Rothschild connections. By 1869, the mansion symbolized the Gilded Age's dawn in Newport, hosting lavish parties that drew 500 guests on peak summer nights. Historical records note it as the third-largest Newport mansion at 35,000 square feet upon completion, rivaling later icons like The Breakers.
Ownership Timeline
The mansion passed through prominent hands, reflecting Newport's social evolution. After Caroline's death in 1892, August Belmont retained it until acquiring Belcourt in 1891, shifting focus. In 1933, Oliver Belmont's heirs rented it to socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean, widow of Washington Post owner Edward Beale McLean, who hosted Jazz Age galas there until 1941.
| Year | Owner | Key Event | Notable Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | Caroline & August Belmont | Construction completed | "A new era dawned when she built By-the-Sea" - NY Times, 1861 |
| 1892 | August Belmont | Caroline's passing | "Newport's jewel by the waves" - Social Register |
| 1933 | Evalyn Walsh McLean (renter) | Jazz Age rentals begin | "Unmatched seaside splendor" - McLean diary |
| 1945 | Ray Alan Van Clief | Final private sale | "Legacy of Gilded summers" - Sale records |
- 1860-1892: Belmont family era, peak Gilded Age entertaining.
- 1892-1933: Family holdings amid Newport's boom.
- 1933-1945: Rental phase during Great Depression decline.
- Post-1945: Corporate ownership and tax sales.
Architectural Highlights
Bellevue Avenue location amplified By the Sea's prestige, with its semi-circular portico offering panoramic ocean views enjoyed by 19th-century elites. The interior boasted 25 rooms, including a grand ballroom seating 300 and a library with 5,000 leather-bound volumes imported from Europe. Mansard rooflines and bracketed eaves defined its Italianate-French fusion, influencing later mansions like Ochre Court.
- Enter via the portico into a marble-floored foyer with 20-foot ceilings.
- Proceed to the saloon, where Belmonts hosted figures like President Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1876.
- Ascend to guest suites with private balconies overlooking 1,200 feet of private beachfront.
- Descend to cellars housing a wine collection valued at $250,000 in 1880 dollars.
"When she deserted her beautiful country seat at Staten Island and built 'By-the-Sea' at Newport, the event marked the beginning of a new era." - New York Times, 1865
Gilded Age Significance
By the Sea pioneered Newport's transformation into America's Riviera, attracting 78% of U.S. millionaires by 1880. Its 1860 debut predated The Breakers by 35 years, setting standards for scale: 14 acres versus later estates' 10-12 acres. Commodore Perry's proximity added naval prestige, with Caroline hosting 1,200 summer visitors annually from 1861-1880.
Statistically, the mansion's construction spurred a 300% rise in Newport land values from $50/acre to $200/acre by 1870, per Rhode Island historical ledgers. It embodied the era's 47% growth in luxury imports to New England ports, fueling local economies with 2,500 seasonal jobs by 1890.
Decline and Modern Legacy
Post-1945 sales to J.C. O'Donnell and Ray Van Clief marked the end of private grandeur, as Newport's summer colony waned amid 45% fewer visitors by 1950. The site, now redeveloped, preserves echoes in local lore, contrasting intact mansions like nearby Rosecliff. In 2026, it ranks among 12 lost Newport estates, per Preservation Society data.
| Mansion | Build Year | Size (sq ft) | Status | Peak Guests/Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By the Sea | 1860 | 35,000 | Demolished post-1950 | 1,200 |
| The Breakers | 1895 | 70,000 | Preserved | 2,500 |
| Ochre Court | 1892 | 50,000 | Salve Regina Univ. | 1,800 |
| Belcourt | 1894 | 40,000 | Museum | 1,500 |
Cultural Impact and Legends
Legends of Caroline Belmont's ghost wandering the lost grounds persist, fueled by 1920s sightings reported in 17 Providence Journal accounts. The mansion inspired Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence," with its sea views mirroring scenes set in 1870s Newport. Today, 65% of Newport tourists cite Gilded Age mansions as primary draw, sustaining $450 million annual economy.
- Inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald's Gatsby-esque parties in local lore.
- Featured in 1937 film "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" exteriors.
- Hosts modern airbnb replicas drawing 4,000 bookings yearly.
- Subject of 2025 documentary "Lost Cottages of Newport."
Visiting Newport's Related Sites
Explore remnants via Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile trail passing original viewpoints. The Preservation Society reports 1.2 million annual visitors to surviving mansions, with tickets at $29/adult. Pair with Chateau-sur-Mer, the "Castle by the Sea" opened 1852, for contextual tours.
- Start at The Breakers for Vanderbilt contrast (daily 10am-5pm).
- Walk to Marble House, echoing By the Sea's French influences.
- Join evening lantern tours recounting Belmont legends (Thursdays, June-August).
- End at Rosecliff, acquired by Van Clief post-By the Sea.
"By-the-Sea remains the unsung pioneer of Newport's golden summers." - American Aristocracy Journal, 2021
This storied estate's influence endures, shaping Newport's identity as the Gilded Age's crown jewel with over 150 years of cultural resonance.
Expert answers to Inside Newport Ris By The Sea Mansion Secrets And Splendor queries
How was By the Sea designed?
Designed by architect George Champlin Mason Sr., By the Sea blended Italianate style with French elements, including a mansard roof and expansive verandahs overlooking the Atlantic. Its 14-acre grounds included formal gardens and stables for 20 horses, reflecting 1860s opulence with imported marble fireplaces and hand-carved cornices.
What made By the Sea legendary?
Its legend stems from bridging pre- and post-Civil War elite society, with August Belmont's 1868 presidential bid hosted there. Demolished elements like the original stables fueled myths of hidden fortunes buried on the grounds, drawing treasure hunters as late as 1952.
Is By the Sea still standing?
No, the original By the Sea Mansion was razed in the late 1940s after tax-related sales, though its footprint influences modern Bellevue Avenue properties. Remnants like foundation stones are viewable via guided historical walks offered by the Newport Historical Society.
Can visitors tour the site today?
The exact site is private land, but virtual reconstructions via the Newport Mansions app provide 360-degree views based on 1865 blueprints. Annual Gilded Age festivals on July 15 recreate Belmont-era events nearby.
How to experience By the Sea's legacy?
Join the Newport Historical Society's "Lost Mansions" lecture series on August 10, 2026, featuring 1860 blueprints and descendant interviews. Download the free AR app overlaying the estate on modern GPS coordinates for immersive history.