For the first time in 129 years , the public can peek inside the private living quarters of the Vanderbilt family during a new “ Preservation in Progress ” tour at the Breakers mansion in Newport . Tourgoers can see original fixtures , furnishings and decor and watch preservation efforts while traveling through a timeline that stretches from 1895 , when the home was built , through 2017 . The third-floor living quarters were originally designed for the sons of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his wife , Alice . The family ’ s descendants moved into the space in 1948 , when the Preservation Society of Newport County began offering tours of the first and second floors . When the society purchased the Breakers in 1972 , it allowed family members to remain on the third floor . The space has been vacant since 2018 , when Vanderbilt descendants and siblings Paul and Gladys Szapary moved out amid a dispute with society members . The tour starts in the first-floor gentlemen ’ s reception room and winds its way through Cornelius (“ Neily ”), Alfred and Reginald Vanderbilt ’ s bedrooms , bathrooms and a spacious living area facing the Atlantic where , if you look just so , you can see the spot where the ocean waves break , the inspiration behind the mansion ’ s name . “ The goal is to show that there ’ s a lot of work that goes into these spaces ; it doesn ’ t just come naturally ,” says Leslie Jones , the society ’ s chief curator and director of museum affairs . “ It gives people an opportunity to really see what goes on behind the scenes .” The guided tours take place daily at 3:30 p . m . newportmansions . org — DANA LAVERTY

PHOTOGRAPHY : GEORGE GRAY / THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY .

RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2024 15