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In 1911, George Widenner purchased a prime plot on 646 Bellevue Avenue, a commanding vantage point over Narragansett Bay. To craft their seaside sanctuary, the Widenner family entrusted famed architect Horace Trumbauer—known for designing opulent mansions like Lyndhurst and the Elysee Palace-inspired Elms in Newport. Their vision: a French-inspired château that echoed the grandeur of European aristocracy, specifically mirroring the French royal palaces.