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STATE: CODE

Rhode Island, 0281t0

t’n’ Ll-j LJNI TED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ThE INI ERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

Tv,: :ili entries - complete applicable sections

L

1. NAME .*

..:.:...., .:....t::.. ,: .

COMMON: iarhlc House

AND OR HISTORIC.

Vanderbilt William x. House

ATIONSTRECT AND NUMBER:

Pellevue AvenueCfl OR TOWN:

NewportSTATL

CODECOUNTY: CODE

L Rhode Island, 028h0 Newport UU

3 CLASSIFICATION

CATEGORYOWNERSHIP

.STATUS

El District Building El Public Public Acquisition: El Yes:

C S te El Structure Private El n Process Unoccupied Xl Restricted

El Object El Both El Being Considered c Preservation work El Unrestricted

in progress El

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

El Entertainment Museum El ScientiFic

L’S

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0

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L’S

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STREET AND NUMBER:

37 Touro Street

STREET AND NUMBER:

BroadwayCITY OR TOWN:

Newport

REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS

r4.o.NNEROFPR0PER.1.y: :

oWNERS N ÂME: -

The PreservationSociety of Newport County

CITY OR TOWN:

NewportLEGAL .H. .:.

fCOURTHOUSE. flOISTRV OF DEEDS. ETC;.

L City Hnll .

STATE CODE

Rhode Island, 028b0 Lth

-_________________

_________..

.4**N. *

.V .4TITLE OF SURVEY: -

OMTE OF SURVEY; El Federol El State El County El LocalDEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS; . . C

IC

STREET AND NUMBER; . S

CITY OR TOWN: STATE:coce .J -

S.p-I

m

a

A,rti

C’

__ ______ __

-:

ch,ic Otto

ICX Excellent El Good El Fair El Deteriorated - fl Ruin, El UnexposedCONDITION

Otto -T check One

Altered 13t Unaltered El Moved J Original Site

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL it known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Narhl6 house was commissionedby Mr. and Nn. William K. Vander-hilt in 1888, the architect being the already-famousRichard torrisHunt; the building was completed in 1892. It is of two principal stereysunon an inconspicuous basement, and a third or penthouse storey is concealed behind a roof balustrade. The house is of U-shape; its entrancefaçade faces west on l3ellevue Avenue, and its other, indented, principal

* elevation overlooks the sea to the east. It is faced and decoratedwith white Tuckahoe marble over, probably, an iron or steel frame withbrick reinforcement and casing. While the house itself is not of greatsize and does not contain a large number of rooms, its architecturalscale 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 elaborateBellevue Avenue gates. The front elevation has three wide bays oneach 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 centreof the house. The Corinthian order is carried fully around the house,all hays being separated by colossal fluted pilasters; above the ornateentablature, a balustrade rims the house. Two close-together flat belt-courses separate the simply-er’.framed round-headed windows of the firstfloor from the sirnply-enframed, flat-capped ones of the second floor. aA 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 - 0the rear terrace--the main stair climbing on one side and having a landing or mezzanine level across the hallts rear. This hall is panelled andpaved with yellow Siena marble, and theie is rich plaster -ceiling treat-ment. At front left, the dining-room opens from the hail; it is pilastered Corinthian and- panelled in pink Numidiari marble and has large

‘bronze wall sconces for lighting; its c.iiling of stucco relief containsan 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 sculptures, marble fireplace, bronze statues, mirrored surfaces, huge gilt-bronze chandeliers--nothing is omitted. Behind east of the ballroomis a reception-room or gallery trir-.med:throughout in high Gothic style, -

with caned oak, plaster ceiling with endants, stained glass in thewindow embrasures the stained glass has been removed. At the leftrear 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-.rnortINVENTORY - NOMINATIONFORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

EN-rr4y HUMUCR DATEContinuation Sheet

A":tnbrt at! rnrIrsc - - -

7. Description.

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

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

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

Although within Richard Hunt’s design al-id supervision, themain’ exterior and interior adornments,of the. house werecreated by the Iollowing: Batteraon,;See & Eisele,exterior and interior marble work; Karl Bitter, sàulptedbas-re].jefs of R.P4. Hunt and Jules Hardouirj Mansai’ton the landing; John Williams Bronze Foundry New York,entrance grille; J. Allard et Fils Paris, Bronze.sculptures, railings, fixtures and other trim andfurnishings in bronze. . - -- -

GPO 901.082

/lGNI!lcANCE--/ -___ :‘" -- -- - - i

I’ CR100 etock One or Morn as Apprnprl,’te -

o Pro-Colombian D 16th Century [1 18th Century - i 20th Century

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 0 Education -- 0 Political ran Planning

fl Prehistoric Engineering Religion/Phi. - Other Specify

‘a Historic 0 Industry -- losophy - Social histor-v-0 Agriculture j Invention 0 Science -

Architecture 0 Landscape Sculpture - - -. - -

o Art Architecture 0 Social/Human. . -

0 Commerce 0 Literature itorion

________________________

0 Communications o Military- fl Theoter -

o Conservation o Music 0 Transportation

________________________

STAT EMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Any sung works by Richard M. Hunt are to-day rare tasures1in our national architectural inheritance. His houses for the VanderJhilts and otheit in Newport, New York City, North Carolina and else- . -

where were creations within the high point of bin hrilliant.career.r - -

o - Insofar as the Vanderbilt family is concernod, 1arhlo House re- -

- - presents its first reat usplashtt fl tile social waters oi’ sunimer NewS’port. As the ambitious and strong-minded Alva Snith Vanderbilt planndit, it placed her on top of a ida1 wave ol’ social importance and itU gave to the Newport locale a new standard of luxury, pretetiidn andfon-nality. This house is a showy hut handsome monument to our iggtdisplay of the power of money and of ttconspicuous consumption.’

I- - I

k.tithin this house and grounds took place many private and publicevenits controlled %y Mrs. Vanderbilt Mrs. 0. H. P. Belmont followingzher divorce; among them were early gatherings of the suffraettes. IBecause 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 .

. IThrough the renerosity of the huilder1s son and that or thetrustees of the last resident, Frederick H. Prince, the house and agood part of its original furnishings in 1963 came ‘into possession ofThe Preservation Society of Newport County, which now opons it to thepublic.. The Chinese tea-house, however, cannot ho shown, as time andhurricanes have left it in a very poor state, in need.of immrediaterepair.- -‘

- : - -

- . -

/ - . /-. 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 ArchitecturalHeritage of Newport, Rhode Island, l6li0-lQl Cambridgo, Hasnachusetts1952, p. 160. -

Schuyler, iontgonier-v: American Architecture and Other 1ritings Cainbridge, Nansachusetts, 1961, pp. 5tt7-5b9.

* The Preservation Society of Newport County: Marble House . Lewport,- Rhode Island, 1965, 17 pn. - -

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES

DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY

- - -

-

CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE

0R

NW

NE

SESW

Degrees Minute, Seconds0

0

0 . *

0

Degrees

0

0

a

0

LATITUDE AND LONGI TUDE COORDINA TESDEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY

OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES

-

Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes

Lao 27’

LATITUDE LONGITUDE

Second,

b3 -NDegrees Minutes Seconds

71 o i8 19 -W

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: tt3acre_LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BDUNDARI ES

STATE: - CODE COUNTY - - - - - CODE

STATE: - CODE COUNTY: - -- - CODE

STATE: CODE COUNTY: - ‘ CODE

STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

III. FORM PREPARED BY - - - - -

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S TREET AND NUMBER:

State House, 90 Smith Street - - -- - ‘ --

NAME AND TITLE: - -

Richard B. Harrington, Consultant -

ORGANIZATION - , DATE

Rhode Island Historical Predervatibn Cothmision -H - ‘ -April 30’ 1971

CITY OR TOWN: -

Providence - --

lFIc’-

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the No-

tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Law

89-665 thereby nornilsate this property for inclusion

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- - - -

level of signsftcance of thts norutnation is:

- National State 0 Local fl

-

N 111110

Title - * - i

I’nte -

STATE - CODE

Rhode Island, 02903 - ‘ - -

-

‘ -

I hereby Certify that this property is included in the -

National Register. - - -

-‘ -

-

Chief, Office of Archeoioy and Historic Preservation* -

-

Date * -

AnEST: -

- - -

Keeper of The National Rcaister

Dole

CP 0 00 1 -057

MEMO- - - - -

.-:.

RHODE 1SLANo HISTORICAL PRESERVATIONCOMMISSION

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode IslandCOUNTY

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Nernort

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPS USE ONLY

Typeall entries - attach to cc enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE

CITY OR TOWN:

NewportSTATE:

Rhode IslandC9DE

tiLtCOUNTY:

NewportCODE

005

OTO REFEREftCE

ATE OF PHOTO: C. 1965

EGATIVE FILED AT: The Preservation37 Toiiro Sti-t.

SocietyNinri-..

of Newportrnitr1t Ti

County

Ba11roon.

0

F-TREET AND NUMBER:

Tellevu.e AvenueU

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HOTO CREDIT: The PreservationSociety of N rrnrt County

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR I

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ftodr Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph

C ., ti T V

r.rprrt

FOR NPS USE ONLYENTRY NUMBER DATE

I1,NAE .** ....

COMMON: rLrl’le HriiAND/OR HISTORIC: Vsnrr1’j]t ijji 1tm .. Hrn

ILOCA T IONSTREET AND NUMBER:

13llcvrte AvenueCITY OR TOWN:

e.Tport

CODE

J0-

DATE OF PHOTO C. 196FILED AT:The PreservationSociety of Newport Ccinty,

- S--- - r _._J - . ,

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION,

Dining-rooii.

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STATE:

Rhode I3landCQ

HOTO

PHOTO CREDIT: The PreservationSociety of Neiport County

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

COMMON:

AND/OR HIS1JMlt:

TREET AND NUMBER:

Pellevue AvenueTY OR TOWN:

Nc’mortF- STATE:

Rhode IslandIn

STATE

Rhode IslandCOUNTY

ewport

PHOTOREFEREcE

PHOTO CREDIT: The PreservationSociety of Newport COmYcTDATE OF PHOTO: C.EOATIVE FILED AT:

1965 or before

______________________________

The PreservationSociety of Nor.rport County,- -1in 02810

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photographIn

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FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

LU

LU

In

I CODE ICOUNTY:

I I Newport

UESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC

Chinese tea-house seen from the south.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

In Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph

. ..r ..:*. . . p...

COMMON: flrrbTh IlonseAND/OR HISTORIC: Vanc1err,lt Wifliim N. I1,se

LL0CAT IONSTREET AND NUMBER:

I3cllevuo AvenueCITY OR TOWN:

NEr-portSTATE: I CODE IC0uNTVI I CODE

Rhode Island r h NewtortPHOTOREFEREN

JPHOTO CREDIT: Th PreservationSociety of Newport Count’.DATE OF PHOTO: C. 196

EGATIVE FILED AT:The PreservationSociety of Newport County,1 37 Touro Street Newport? Rhode Island, 0251:0OENTIFIcATION

STAT r

}ode IsThrCOUNTY

fle’-TnnrtFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

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InDESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION. ETC.

Entrarre west front.

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GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINAIESLatitude: hi 27’ b3" NLongitude: 7]. 18’ ].90 W

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Form 10-301July 1969

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY MAP FORM

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith map

STATE

Rhor3e IslarxCOUN TV

NewnortFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

f. NAME -:, --

[OMMON: -arhle }IusOR HISTORIC: Vanderbilt ?:Tifliar K. Flouse

[LOCATION -- .:. - " ;. -.

STRUET AND t4UMDER:

Fellevue Avenue

CITY OR TO4NiNewport

STATE:Rhode Island CODE ICOTY CODE

MAP REFERENCE. . ...

SOURCE:

U. S. Geological SurveySCALE: 1 21L,OUODATE: 197

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundaries where required.2. North arrow.

3. Latitude and longitude reference.