Most tours of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions focus on extreme opulence—velvet curtains, ornate staircases and resplendent parties. But behind the glittering exterior was a staff (sometimes a mistreated staff) who worked long hours to uphold the house’s reputation.
A new tour series goes behind the scenes at the Elms to highlight the real people responsible for this extraordinary home. The tour highlights stories of the Elms butler, Ernest Birch; his wife, cook Grace Rhodes; and one of the maids, Nellie Lynch Regoli. The tour also delves into the realities of immigration, employment and labor disputes in the early 20th century.
Prepare to climb flight after flight of stairs—just like the staff did, including the back staircase from the basement servant entrance up to the third-floor staff quarters. You’ll climb back down the stairs to see the basement kitchens, coal cellar, boiler room and laundry rooms. On sunny days, the tour also offers a peek at the rooftop where you’ll get a stunning view of Newport Harbor as an added bonus.
Just note that this tour will not take you into more traditional parts of the home, such as dining rooms and ballrooms, so book a separate experience for that.