Guests can now sign up to "be among the first to step inside" when the house reopens later this fall

The Preservation Society of Newport County (Newport Mansions) has begun teasing out a new guest experience at The Elms that will offer a fresh way to connect with the remarkable Gilded Age mansion through engaging storytelling, multi-sensory elements and other thoughtfully integrated enhancements. Interested parties are invited to be among the first to step inside by visiting newportmansions.org/theelms and entering their email address.

The new experience is being created in collaboration with Digital Kitchen, a global creative studio that merges Emmy-winning storytelling, content and design to captivate audiences. The group was selected as the Preservation Society’s creative and experience design partner in 2024 following a competitive selection process.

Originally constructed at the turn of the 20th century as the summer residence of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind, The Elms was modeled after an 18th-century French chateau and featured the latest technology of the Gilded Age. It houses an outstanding collection of paintings, statuary and tapestries, and its landscape features formal gardens, terraces, pavilions and fountains.

The Elms has been closed to the public since Aug. 10 in preparation for the new experience. The museum café, The Carriage House at The Elms, remains open daily while the house is closed. Café hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last seating at 4 p.m. The Carriage House is open only to Preservation Society members and guests with any Newport Mansions house tour ticket.

ABOUT NEWPORT MANSIONS | THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY

The Preservation Society of Newport County is Rhode Island's largest cultural organization, protecting, preserving and presenting the best of Newport County's architectural heritage. As a nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Preservation Society's 11 historic properties – seven of them National Historic Landmarks – span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development from the Colonial era to the Gilded Age.

Through its historic properties, educational programs, and related activities the Preservation Society engages the public in the story of America’s vibrant cultural heritage. Today, these "Newport Mansions" are an integral part of the living fabric of the city in which they stand.

For more information, please visit NewportMansions.org.