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Ar t’n’ Ll-j LJNI TED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ThE INI ERIOR itr.dr Island

C 0 U 1 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES !:cr.rnort

INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM - FOR UPS USE ONLY

I1JTUY tIUMorp LATC

Tv,: :ili entries - complete applicable sections

..:.:...., * .:....t::.. ,: . 1. NAME . COMMON: iarhlc House

AND OR HISTORIC. Vanderbilt William x. House ATION

STRECT AND NUMBER: Pellevue Avenue Cfl OR TOWN: Newport STATL COUNTY: CODE CODE L , 028h0 Newport UU L3 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY L’S OWNERSHIP STATUS . z El District Building El Public Public Acquisition: El Yes: 0 Restricted C S te El Structure Private El n Process Unoccupied Xl Unrestricted El Object El Both El Being Considered c Preservation work El I in progress El

U nRESEN T USE check One or More as Appropriate El Agricultural El Government El Pork El Transportation El Comments El Commercial El Industriol 0 Private Residence El Other Specify El Educational El Military El Religious Entertainment Museum ScientiFic L’S El El z r4.o.NNEROFPR0PER.1.y: : oWNERS N ÂME: - The Preservation Society of Newport County uj STREET AND NUMBER: Ui 37 Touro Street

CITY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE Newport Rhode Island, 0281t0 LEGAL .H. .:. fCOURTHOUSE. flOISTRV OF DEEDS. ETC;. L City Hnll . STREET AND NUMBER: Broadway

CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE Newport Rhode Island, 028b0 Lth

-______. .V REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS 4**N. * .4

TITLE OF SURVEY: -

OMTE OF SURVEY; El Federol El State El County El Local a DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS; . . C

IC

STREET AND NUMBER; . S A, rti C’ CITY OR TOWN: STATE: coce .J -

S. p-I m ______

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ch,ic Otto Excellent Good Fair Deteriorated Ruin, Unexposed CX El El El - fl El CONDITION I Otto -T check One Altered 13t Unaltered El Moved J Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL it known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Narhl6 house was commissioned by Mr. and Nn. William K. Vander- hilt in 1888, the architect being the already-famous Richard torris Hunt; the building was completed in 1892. It is of two principal stereys unon an inconspicuous basement, and a third or penthouse storey is con cealed behind a roof balustrade. The house is of U-shape; its entrance façade faces west on l3ellevue Avenue, and its other, indented, principal * elevation overlooks the sea to the east. It is faced and decorated with white Tuckahoe marble over, probably, an iron or steel frame with brick reinforcement and casing. While the house itself is not of great size and does not contain a large number of rooms, its architectural scale is large and--very intentionally--imposing.

The entrance pavilion in the centre of the west front has a tetra- style unpedimented portico, using the full Roman Corinthian vocabulary, before it. A horseshoe-shaped drive,with marble balustrade, wrought - iron railing, large torchères, leads to this portico from the elaborate Bellevue Avenue gates. The front elevation has three wide bays on

each side of this nortico; the house is five bays deep; the rear wings -. 4 or projections have each two bays and there axe four in the rear centre of the house. The Corinthian order is carried fully around the house, all hays being separated by colossal fluted pilasters; above the ornate entablature, a balustrade rims the house. Two close-together flat belt- courses separate the simply-er’.framed round-headed windows of the first floor from the sirnply-enframed, flat-capped ones of the second floor. a A paved and halustraded terrace is at the rear east of the house, partially contained by its two seaward trojections.

A very wide-screen of wrought iron and glass within the-portico - allows entrance to the. first-floor hall, which runs straight through to - 0 the rear terrace--the main stair climbing on one side and having a land ing or mezzanine level across the hallts rear. This hall is panelled and paved with yellow Siena marble, and theie is rich plaster -ceiling treat- ment. At front left, the dining-room opens from the hail; it is pilas tered Corinthian and- panelled in pink Numidiari marble and has large ‘bronze wall sconces for lighting; its c.iiling of stucco relief contains an allegorical painting. Opposite, at right front, is the ballroom, which employs full Louis XIV-Versailles decorative treatment- in an ex- plosion of gilt snd carved wood, moulded plaster, plaster ielief sculp tures, marble fireplace, bronze statues, mirrored surfaces, huge gilt- bronze chandeliers--nothing is omitted. Behind east of the ballroom

is a reception-room or gallery trir-.med:throughout in high Gothic style, - with caned oak, plaster ceiling with endants, stained glass in the window embrasures the stained glass has been removed. At the left rear corner of the first floor is a not-large library or sitting-room 4 . pnelled in walnut in Louis XV style.- - -- See Continuation Sheet.:

/ / / - / Fan,, iO.300n UNITED STATES OEPARTMEFIT OF THE IN TERIOR r.r n: - JUly 1969 NAIIOrIAL PARK SERVICE Trio.c islanj NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUnT? - - lie-.rnort INVENTORY - NOMINATIONFORM FOR NPS USE ONLY EN-rr4y HUMUCR DATE Continuation Sheet

A":tnbrt at! rnrIrsc - -- 7. Description.

At the liwel where the wide stair-landing forms a mezzanine there are small flanking family sitting-rooms; The second floor originally accommodated not more tb-i-n eight or nine bedrooms some rearrangement of the icssbr of those chambers has been made, of which the most lavish were that of Mrs. Vanderbilt and the main guest-room.

Farhle House’s site is not a large one, and it is narrow as it ex tends from Bellevue Avenue to a steep drop above the shoreline. Dordering trees, a plain eastern 1mm comprise the only landscaping. Howevor, as an adderi luxury and a terminal visual attraction there was built in 1913 a Chinese tea-house in the form of a one-storey pagoda on i-actions above the water. Panelled, coloured and gilded, it has a reon-tiled roof with concave outline, swooping projecting ribs and much symbolic adornment in the way of Chinese dynastic structures. This was designed by the sons of Richord Hunt. -

Fran 1897 to 1909 and from 1917 to 1933 Narhle Uouse was not occu pied, but it was cared for. In 1933 it was put hack in use by a neq owner who resided there regularly. He made no chsnges, except for alterations of convenience in the bedroom and terrace areas and at the penthouse level. zany of the original furnishings, made for the house, stayed there through the second ownership and are still there. -

Although within Richard Hunt’s design al-id supervision, the main’ exterior and interior adornments,of the. house were created by the Iollowing: Batteraon,;See & Eisele, exterior and interior marble work; Karl Bitter, sàulpted bas-re].jefs of R.P4. Hunt and Jules Hardouirj Mansai’t on the landing; John Williams Bronze Foundry New York, entrance grille; J. Allard et Fils Paris, Bronze. sculptures, railings, fixtures and other trim and

furnishings in bronze. . - -- -

GPO 901.082 ______

/

lGNI!lcANCE--/ -___ :‘" ------i I’ CR100 etock One or Morn as Apprnprl,’te - 16th 20th Century o Pro-Colombian D Century [1 18th Century - i o 15th Century 0 17th Century 19th Century SPECIFIC DATES If Applicable and Known I88 -1392.

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Chock One or More na Appropriate - Abor iginol Education - Political ran Planning 0 - 0 Prehistoric Other fl Engineering Religion/Phi. - Specify Historic Industry ‘a 0 -- losophy - Social histor-v- Agriculture 0 j Invention 0 Science - Architecture 0 Landscape Sculpture - - -. - - Art o Architecture 0 Social/Human. . - 0 Commerce 0 Literature itorion Communications 0 Military Theoter - o - fl o Conservation o Music 0 Transportation

STAT EMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Any sung works by Richard M. Hunt are to-day rare tasures1 in our national architectural inheritance. His houses for the VanderJ

hilts and otheit in Newport, New York City, North Carolina and else- .- where were creations within the high point of bin hrilliant.career. r - -

- Insofar o as the is concernod, 1arhlo House re- - - - presents its first reat usplashtt tile port. fl social waters oi’ sunimer NewS’ As the ambitious and strong-minded Alva Snith Vanderbilt plannd it, it placed her U on top of a ida1 wave ol’ social importance and it gave to the Newport locale a new standard fon-nality. of luxury, pretetiidn and This house is a showy hut handsome monument to our iggt display of the power of money and of ttconspicuous consumption.’ I- - I k.tithin this house and grounds took place many private and public %y z evenits controlled Mrs. Vanderbilt Mrs. 0. H. P. Belmont following her divorce; among them were early gatherings of the suffraettes. I Because of its châtelaine, perhaps,, and surely because of its impressive - appearance, Marble 1-ioue has- always teen one-’of; the sights of New-port’. w . . I Through the renerosity of the huilder1s son and that or the trustees of the last resident, Frederick H. Prince, the house and a good part of its original furnishings in 1963 came ‘into possession of The Preservation Society of Newport County, which now opons it to the public.. The Chinese tea-house, however, cannot ho shown, as time and hurricanes have left it in a very poor state, in need.of immrediate repair.- -‘ - : - -

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/ - . / -. I -

-- -‘ ‘ " - 7’ fr MAJOR I3II3UOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES ‘ --

Androws, Wayne: Architecture, Ambition and Americans New York, 1955, - p. 183. - Downing, Antoinette F., and Scully, Vincent J., Jr.: The Architectural Heritage of Newport, Rhode Island, l6li0-lQl Cambridgo, Hasnachusetts 1952, p. 160. - Schuyler, iontgonier-v: American Architecture and Other 1ritings Cain bridge, Nansachusetts, 1961, pp. 5tt7-5b9. * The Preservation Society of Newport County: Marble House . Lewport, - Rhode Island, 1965, 17 pn. - -

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LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES LATITUDE AND LONGI TUDE COORDINA TES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY 0 DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY R OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE LATITUDE LONGITUDE Degrees Minute, Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Second, Degrees Minutes Seconds 0 0 NW Lao 27’ b3 -N 71 o i8 19 -W NE 0 0 SE 0 . * a SW 0 0 APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: tt3acre_ I,6 LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BDUNDARI ES

STATE: - CODE COUNTY --- - - CODE n-I tn

STATE: - CODE COUNTY: - -- - CODE

STATE: CODE COUNTY: - ‘ CODE -r ‘I,

STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

III. FORM PREPARED - - - - - BY ‘C NAME AND TITLE: - -

Richard B. Harrington, Consultant - -n

ORGANIZATION - , DATE Rhode Island Historical Predervatibn Cothmision -H -‘ -April 30’ 1971 S TREET AND NUMBER: :0 State House, 90 Smith Street - - -- - ‘ --

CITY OR TOWN: - STATE - CODE -f-fl Providence - -- Rhode Island, 02903 -‘- - lFIc’- -

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the No- ‘ - I hereby Certify that this property is included in the - tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Law - - - 89-665 thereby nornilsate this property for inclusion National Register.

in the Notional Rugister andcertify that it has been - ‘ - evaluated according to the criteria and procethires set - forth by the National Park Service. The recommended - - - - Chief, Office of Archeoioy and Historic Preservation level of signsftcance of thts norutnation is: * -

- National State Local 0 fl -

- Date * -

N 111110 AnEST: -

Title - * - i - - -

Keeper of The National Rcaister

I’nte - Dole

CP 0 00 1 -057 ------: --- ‘-*-- -

1

- - - - - .-:. MEMO RHODE 1SLANo HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION / I

/2 --

//2 ‘-V

-- - -it 4 STATE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Nernort PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE Type all entries - attach to cc enclose with photograph

0

F- TREET AND NUMBER: U Tellevu.e Avenue CITY OR TOWN: Newport

F STATE: C9DE COUNTY: CODE Rhode Island tiLt Newport 005 z OTO REFEREftCE HOTO CREDIT: The Preservation Society of N rrnrt County ATE OF PHOTO: C. 1965 LU EGATIVE FILED AT: The Preservation Society of Newport County LU 37 Toiiro Sti-t. Ninri-.. rnitr1t Ti

Ba11roon. - A, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR I NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ftodr Island C ., ti T V NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES r.rprrt PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph

I1,NAE .** .... 0 COMMON: rLrl’le Hrii

AND/OR HISTORIC: Vsnrr1’j]t ijji 1tm .. Hrn I- ILOCA T ION STREET AND NUMBER: U 13llcvrte Avenue

CITY OR TOWN: e.Tport

I STATE: CQ TY: CODE Rhode I3land U crrort J0- In HOTO PHOTO CREDIT: The Preservation Society of Neiport County DATE OF PHOTO C. 196 LU FILED AT:The Preservation Society of Newport Ccinty, - r _._J -. , LU - S--- In DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, Dining-rooii.

I -- -IL .1-It

3 ______

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ewport PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE In Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph z

0 COMMON: AND/OR HIS1JMlt: I TREET AND NUMBER: U Pellevue Avenue

TY OR TOWN: Nc’mort

F- STATE: I CODE ICOUNTY: Rhode Island Newport In I I PHOTOREFEREcE

PHOTO CREDIT: The Preservation Society of Newport COmYcT DATE OF PHOTO: C. 1965 or before LU EOATIVE FILED AT: The Preservation Society of Nor.rport County, - LU -1in 02810 In UESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC Chinese tea-house seen from the south.

STAT r UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE }ode IsThr

COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES fle’-Tnnrt PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE In Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph

. ..r ..:*. . . p... 0 COMMON: flrrbTh Ilonse AND/OR HISTORIC: Vanc1err,lt Wifliim N. I1,se I- LL0CAT ION STREET AND NUMBER: U I3cllevuo Avenue

CITY OR TOWN: NEr-port I- STATE: I CODE IC0uNTVI I CODE Rhode Island h Newtort In r PHOTOREFEREN JPHOTO CREDIT: Th Preservation Society of Newport Count’. DATE OF PHOTO: C. 196 LU EGATIVE FILED AT:The Preservation Society of Newport County, LU 1 37 Touro Street Newport? Rhode Island, 0251:0 In OENTIFIcATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION. ETC. Entrarre west front. I oSe Iand ¼ . .5 tchtIl r ock .. -. ight

38

60 Goat "I2 1 Island J//j eaC,. too & NAV,t4 *‘‘. ‘ . "‘"Y’:: . Marys Seat ‘ . ,r. /ght I ,; / " / ‘ ‘NEWPORT,/ HARBO? I oiphin". ft 2 / : .-_ -- fl y/- / l 1 . Ida Lewis ‘, Rock / LIgIt0 ‘7 Ilt Pl n gs0 ‘I otySteps Rp* 110?? tA 28 - EGINA

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33 44 0/ 01/" c 45 + !I/ A1/

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:4,. I . ‘ * A /4/ 30 37 H’ ?4 IC - *oarIng Bull 63 pock I 33

64 5? GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINAIES 28 48 Latitude: hi 27’ b3" N 70 Longitude: 7]. 18’ ].90 W 11 K, 74 c8 ‘ 67 66 5 77 69 84 ‘I Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhor3e Islarx

COUN TV NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Newnort PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE In Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map z f. NAME -:, -- 0 [OMMON: -arhle }Ius OR HISTORIC: Vanderbilt ?:Tifliar K. Flouse F- [LOCATION -- .:. - " ;. -. STRUET AND t4UMDER: U Fellevue Avenue

CITY OR TO4Ni Newport

STATE: I- Rhode Island CODE ICOTY CODE In MAP z REFERENCE. . ... SOURCE: U. S. Geological Survey

LU SCALE: 1 21L,OUO DATE: 197 LU In TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.