The Elms is a wonderful house but I think the grounds are the crowning glory here. The 14-acre property with its gardens, its folly and all of the fountains and statues is fantastic. It's hard to believe that this property almost became a shopping center but it seems that only an economic downturn that forced the developer to sell the property to the Preservation Society kept it standing. We would have lost so much! At 31,401 square feet, it is the 19th largest historic house in the United States and the 3rd largest of Newport's "cottages" behind The Breakers and Ochre Court (now the main administration building for Salve Regina University).

It's hard to picture the actual use of all these Newport mansions when you are touring them, but it must have been an incredible sight to see a party at one of them. The Elms, like all the others, is decorated to the hilt and it's a bit overwhelming to see all the art and furnishings and take it all in. It's easy to book your tickets ahead of time and you can bundle all the mansions together on one ticket.

Though it's been 2-3 decades since our last visit here; it didn't take long to rekindle memories of the impact we felt the first time we experienced this level of artistry and craftmanship. It's maybe not as intensely opulent as The Breakers; but it is still a magnificent "cottage". One may debate the issues surrounding the accumulation and/or ostentatious presentation of wealth; but there is no disputing the result of letting skilled artists/ workers have the resources to achieve their best work. One change we really appreciated from our last visit, was the availability of a self-guided audio tour; allowing one to immerse in each area, for as long as desired. If one has mobility issues, as we do, it's nice not having to keep pace with a guided group; and being able to rest as needed. We also enjoyed strolling the grounds, and talking with one of the grounds keepers; learning about the efforts needed to maintain the beautiful landscaping. This location is one more example of the deep well of architectural splendor concentrated in the Newport area.

This was the third of three mansions we visited (The Breakers and Marblehouse being the others.) We really enjoyed the house, but were mansioned out. I'd recommend not going to more than 1 mansion a day, if you have the time to split them up into multiple days.

It was a rainy day when I visited the elms after taking the ferry from providence. Newport’s mansions provided an excellent escape for the rain. You take the free buses from the aquarium building. The visitor centre in a complex across the street from the harbour has maps. The Elms ornate marble, gold-accented, and hardwood decor were a pleasure to behold. The gardens were beautiful, but not much time was spent did the rain.

The tour of The Elms was included in our Newport Mansions tour. By the time we got here, as our last stop, we had an hour to rush through the mansion and gardens. It was not enough time, this “cottage” is huge and there are stories in every room. The Preservation Society of Newport County saved the building at the last minute before it was to be demolished and turned into a parking lot. The furnishings were auctioned off only to be donated back once the Preservation Society took it over. The rooms are large, the ceilings high, the staircase impressive with marble everywhere. Downstairs you will find the huge kitchens, I could imagine the staff members buzzing around like a beehive during a lavish dinner party. Don’t miss the gardens, out beyond the huge group of European Beech trees, it’s gorgeous.