06/02/2026
Celebrating America 250!! A look back at Newport real estate...
Ever wonder how Newport, RI went from a cozy 1600s fishing town to the ultimate billionaire playground? 🌊
Before the mega-mansions took over, Newport was a bustling colonial port packed with simple timber homes. In fact, Newport actually has one of the highest concentrations of preserved Colonial-era homes in the entire country! The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard house at the corner of Broadway and Stone St. is one example and is currently undergoing preservation.🪵🇺🇸
In the late 1800s, America’s wealthiest families (Vanderbilts, Astors and others) discovered Newport's temperate summer cliamte and built massive, European style 60,000-square-foot mansions along Bellevue Avenue coining them "summer cottages." Masterpieces like The Breakers (1895) and Marble House (1892) forever redefined luxury architecture. This Gilded Age is depicted in the HBO series as residents have been witness to filming over the past couple of years.
Fast forward to today, and that incredible history is exactly why Newport real estate is so special—and highly competitive. The founding of The Preservation Society of Newport County in 1945 changed everything, saving architectural treasures from demolition and cementing Newport's historical value. Buying a home here means literally owning a piece of American history! ✨
👇 Drop your favorite Newport spot or mansion in the comments!
