New Holiday Program at Rough Point Offers a Unique View of a Newport Mansion

(Newport, RI) Looking for something a little different this holiday season? Attend one of the authentic Christmas programs being offered by the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF), a local historic preservation group. For the first time, NRF will open the doors of Rough Point, the Newport mansion owned by heiress Doris Duke, to allow a glimpse of the house in winter as it would have looked while she was away celebrating Christmas in Hawaii.

UnDecked Halls: A Glimpse Behind the Shutters at Rough Point welcomes visitors into the hushed halls of the nearly empty mansion where the only decorations are found in the staff quarters. Hear about Doris Duke’s tropical holiday. Stroll through rooms filled with draped furniture and admire the uncovered paintings and tapestries. Learn about caretaking rituals such as the cleaning of the chandeliers that have been practiced the same way for nearly a century.

This tour of the first floor of Rough Point includes a visit to the staff dining room – not normally on the tour – where visitors will enjoy refreshments and admire Christmas decorations. Tours are offered every half hour from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 9; Saturday, December 16; and Thursday, December 28. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children 18 and under. Tickets are sold at the door. Rough Point is located at 680 Bellevue Avenue.

For a trip further back in time, pay a visit to the Whitehorne House, a federal period mansion owned by the NRF. Keeping Christmas with the Whitehornes allows guests to meet the two Whitehorne daughters and learn about the history of the holiday. The program illustrates the simple Christmas festivities of the early 1800s in Newport and explains why some less tolerant colonies had outlawed holiday celebrations. Visitors can sample Mrs. Whitehorne’s gingerbread and take away a booklet of authentic colonial recipes. Whitehorne House will be open from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on weekends in December: 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children under 16. Tickets are sold across the street at the NRF Museum Store. The Whitehorne House is located at 416 Thames Street.

For more information on NRF holiday programs, visit www.newportrestoration.org or call (401) 849-7300 x10. For more information on Christmas in Newport, visit www.ChristmasinNewport.org.

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