Part 2/15:
Newport, Rhode Island: The Epitome of Elite Coastal Retreats
Undoubtedly, Newport was the queen of upscale summer resorts during the Golden Age. This historic seaside town became the summer playground for America’s wealthiest families—Vanderbilts, Astors, Morgans, and others—who built sprawling mansions along the cliffs and coves. These properties, often sarcastically called "cottages," were in fact grand palaces rivaling European castles. For instance, Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s Biltmore had 70 rooms, a soaring 50-foot ceiling hall, Italian and African imported marble, and all the technological marvels of the time.