A Divorced Vanderbilt Heiress Launched Her Fight for Women’s Rights in This Rhode Island Mansion

Marble House, Newport

The stats on Marble House are ridiculous: 500,000 cubic feet of marble, a gold-encrusted ballroom, and enough gilt to make Versailles blush. But the real story is how Alva Vanderbilt used this ‘summer cottage’ to rewrite the rules of American high society.

William Vanderbilt Spent a Fortune Just on Marble

Marble House got its name literally from the 500,000 cubic feet of marble brought in from Italy, Africa, and Algeria. William K. Vanderbilt spent $7 million just on marble in the 1890s, which would be over $100 million today.

The house needed special steel framing because the marble was so heavy. You’ll see yellow Italian marble throughout the interior spaces. The dining room features rose-colored marble from Algeria. Even the front doors were expensive at $50,000 and weigh one and a half tons each.

Alva Got Marble House as a Birthday Gift Before Her Divorce

William Vanderbilt gave Marble House to his wife Alva for her 39th birthday in 1892. Just three years later, Alva divorced William because he cheated on her. She kept Marble House in the divorce along with $10 million and custody of all three kids.

It was unheard of back then for a divorced woman to keep her social status, but Alva did. She quickly remarried Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, who was actually one of her ex-husband’s old friends, and moved to his mansion down the road.

Marble House Changed Newport Society Forever

When Marble House opened in 1892, it turned Newport from a quiet town with wooden houses into a place with excessively fancy mansions. Before this, old-money families lived in modest “cottages” and cared more about your family name than how rich you were.

The Vanderbilts were considered “new money,” but used their over-the-top mansion to force their way into high society. Alva didn’t invite Mrs. Caroline Astor, who ruled New York society, to her 1883 costume ball until Mrs. Astor asked for an invitation, completely changing who had social power.

Gold Covers Almost Every Surface in the Grand Salon

The Grand Salon has more 22-karat gold leaf than many royal palaces, all put on by hand by French workers. They copied the design directly from the salon de Hercule at Versailles.

When you look up, you’ll see an 18th-century French painting of Minerva on the ceiling, based on the Queen’s bedroom at Versailles. The walls show gold-covered panels with scenes from Greek myths, similar to the Galerie d’Apollon at the Louvre. Green silk and velvet furniture creates a striking contrast against all that gold.

Women Fought for Voting Rights at the Chinese Tea House

Behind Marble House sits a Chinese Tea House where Alva hosted women’s rights rallies after her second husband died in 1908. She hired Richard and Joseph Howland Hunt to build it, and they actually traveled to Southern China to research real designs.

The tea house cost $10,000 and looks like a 12th century Song Dynasty temple with upswept roof edges and guardian animal statues. You could attend one of Alva’s fundraising teas for $5 (about $150 today). She even had special china made with “Votes for Women” printed right on it.

Guests Spent Fortunes on Costumes for One-Night Parties

At Marble House’s most famous ball in 1883, guests had to dress up as people from King Louis XVI’s court. Some spent what would be $50,000 today on outfits they’d only wear once. In 1895, the Vanderbilts threw a party for the Duke of Marlborough and their daughter Consuelo with over 300 guests that lasted until 5 AM.

They could party so late because the ballroom had electric lights, which was rare back then. At Consuelo’s debutante ball, they released 300 live hummingbirds to fly around an indoor fountain.

Bathrooms at Marble House Were Incredibly Advanced

Marble House was one of the first American homes to have private bathrooms connected to each bedroom. The bathrooms had solid silver fixtures that servants had to polish every day. Even the water pipes had sterling silver lining to keep the water clean.

You could take a bath in either fresh water or salt water, which came through separate hot and cold taps. A special system pumped water straight from the Atlantic Ocean, then filtered and heated it. Most American homes wouldn’t have anything close to this for decades.

French-Influenced Design in Old America

Richard Morris Hunt created Marble House in the Beaux-Arts style, making it one of the first such buildings in America. He added lots of classical features specifically to show off his formal training from Paris.

Alva worked closely with Hunt on the design and actually became one of the first female members of the American Institute of Architects. They brought in Jules Allard and Sons from Paris, who had already designed interiors for the Vanderbilts’ New York mansion, to create the fancy French-inspired rooms at Marble House.

Hollywood Loves Filming at Marble House

You’ve probably seen Marble House in movies like “The Great Gatsby” (1974), “True Lies” (1994), and “27 Dresses.” It’s also appeared in TV shows like “The Buccaneers” and HBO’s “The Gilded Age.” The mansion even showed up in a Victoria’s Secret commercial.

When the Prince family owned the house, they hosted the famous Tiffany Ball in the ballroom in 1957, where Senator John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy were among the guests. Hollywood directors love the mansion because it instantly shows extreme wealth on screen.

Running the House Required a Small Army of Workers

Behind the scenes, 36 staff members lived in servants’ quarters and moved through hidden passages in the house. When the Vanderbilts hosted dinner parties, at least 20 servants worked behind the scenes. The head chef earned $10,000 a year (about $350,000 today) to cook for the family.

Alva had a reputation as a tough boss, making jobs difficult even with good pay. Staff lived on a hidden third floor in basic rooms, using separate entrances and stairs, which was a stark contrast to the luxury they maintained.

Hidden Meanings Are Tucked Into the House’s Design

Throughout Marble House, you’ll find secret meanings and family symbols in the details. Look for dolphins carved into marble fireplaces that represent the Vanderbilt shipping business. The Greek key patterns in the floors symbolize the family’s journey to wealth.

Even the number of columns and decorative elements match up with important Vanderbilt family dates and events. The ceiling paintings tell stories about the family’s rise to importance through symbols and images, creating a subtle family history throughout the house.

Real French Royal Treasures Fill the Mansion

The Vanderbilts bought authentic items that once belonged to Marie Antoinette for Marble House. These included original furniture, wall hangings, and decorative objects they acquired after the French Revolution. They sent people all over Europe to find items with royal history to make the mansion feel authentic.

The painting of King Louis XVI in the dining room survived the French Revolution when someone cut it from its frame and hid it. The Gothic Room served as Alva’s private museum for her entire collection bought from French collector Emile Gavet.

Visiting Marble House Today

You’ll find Marble House at 596 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. In 2025, tickets cost $25 for adults, $10 for kids ages 6-12, and children under 5 get in free. The mansion is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM in busy season and 10 AM to 4 PM in off-season.

Plan to spend about 90 minutes exploring the house and grounds. You can park for free across the street.