The Breakers.

The Breakers is located in Newport, Rhode Island, on the east coast of the United States. Here is some detailed information about The Breakers: 1. Historical background: - The Breakers was built as a summer retreat for the family of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. The Vanderbilt family made their fortune in steamship shipping and later entered the railroad industry, becoming famous railroad tycoons in the 19th century. - His grandson, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, became chairman and president of the New York Central Railroad System in 1885 and purchased a wooden house in Newport that same year. In 1892, the wooden house was destroyed by fire, so in 1893, Cornelius Vanderbilt II commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design and build the current Breakers, which was completed in the summer of 1895. 2. Architectural features: - Style: The villa features a lavish Italian Renaissance style, inspired by 16th-century palaces in Genoa and Turin. - Scale: The Breakers has 70 rooms, a total area of 12,848 square meters (about 19.3 acres), and five floors, making it a wonder of its time. - Decoration: Austrian-American sculptor Karl Bitter designed the interior sculptures, and Boston architect Ogden Codman decorated the family's rooms. The interior features gold ceilings, numerous fireplaces, various crystal chandeliers, and exquisite murals, all of which are extremely luxurious. 3. Surrounding environment: - The Breakers is backed by the sea, and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks on the shore is constant, hence the name. The garden lawn behind the villa is beautiful, with delicate lawns and neatly trimmed flowers and trees. 4. Current status: Vanderbilt's youngest daughter inherited the villa after her mother's death in 1934. She was enthusiastic about public welfare and opened The Breakers in 1948 to raise funds for Newport County. In 1972, the county purchased The Breakers from her heirs, and it is now a National Historic Landmark operated and managed by the Preservation Society of Newport County. The Breakers is open for most of the year, but may be closed on certain US holidays (such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and Independence Day). Adult tickets are generally $19.50, and children's tickets are $5.50. Visitors can choose to explore the historic building on their own, with a guide, or through a virtual tour.