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The Breakers Mansion in Newport, RI
Posted: November 24, 2006 6:15 am
by aeroparrot
For the past 150 years, the silver leafed wall in the Breakers Mansion never tarnished. This had confused the experts on why this was the case until recently. It has been found out that the Vanderbilts didn't use silver for the wall. They had used platinum. This surprised the experts because they didn't think there was the technology to do this for platinum.
Posted: November 24, 2006 9:38 am
by kitty
Love that place...it is so beautiful!
Posted: November 24, 2006 9:57 am
by conched
Interesting story here in Rhode Island News.
When Silver Leaf Just Won't Do
Posted: November 24, 2006 10:57 am
by Moonie
platinum is worth more than gold or silver, per oz...but maybe not back then but it sure is now' although I don't imagine the Vanderbilts worried about that..
I've only seen it on the Discovery Channel 
; it's certainly a part of our history....
Posted: November 24, 2006 2:54 pm
by ejr
I am co-chairing a convention next April in Providence, and have arranged a pre-convention bus trip to Newport for about 50 convention registrants, who will get to tour two of the mansions. One will definitely be the Breakers.
For those who have been there should I make Marble House the second house, or do you have other suggestions?
Posted: November 24, 2006 5:22 pm
by aeroparrot
ejr wrote:I am co-chairing a convention next April in Providence, and have arranged a pre-convention bus trip to Newport for about 50 convention registrants, who will get to tour two of the mansions. One will definitely be the Breakers.
For those who have been there should I make Marble House the second house, or do you have other suggestions?
I would.
Posted: November 24, 2006 11:30 pm
by spoonerhizolehound
ejr wrote:I am co-chairing a convention next April in Providence, and have arranged a pre-convention bus trip to Newport for about 50 convention registrants, who will get to tour two of the mansions. One will definitely be the Breakers.
For those who have been there should I make Marble House the second house, or do you have other suggestions?
Belcourt Castle is pretty cool. They even have some "haunted mirrors". But Marble House/Breakers is a great way to go for first timers.
Posted: November 27, 2006 12:47 pm
by SuperTrooper
spoonerhizolehound wrote:ejr wrote:I am co-chairing a convention next April in Providence, and have arranged a pre-convention bus trip to Newport for about 50 convention registrants, who will get to tour two of the mansions. One will definitely be the Breakers.
For those who have been there should I make Marble House the second house, or do you have other suggestions?
Belcourt Castle is pretty cool. They even have some "haunted mirrors". But Marble House/Breakers is a great way to go for first timers.
The Elms is also a good choice because you get to see more rooms and can move at your own pace.
The Breakers is, of course, a step above the rest. I just wish the tours weren't so rushed.
Posted: November 27, 2006 12:56 pm
by Catch&Release
The Breakers is astounding.
Marble House was also great and is a good 2nd choice.
It was on a tour of the Breakers when I realized that a girl I really liked wasn't likely the girl for me. She was walking through one of the grandiose rooms (I think the dining room that seated like 100 plus) and said "This is how I want to live!"
Was all I could muster as I thought of how much I would NOT like to live in a house that required a staff of 10 full time people to just maintain the grounds!
Anyway...make sure you make time for lunch or dinner in Newport. It's a great seaside town with so much history and a number of very good restaurants. Have fun!