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A trip to Newport, R.I., inspired by HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ – The Boston Globe

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A trip to Newport, R.I., inspired by HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ – The Boston Globe


Since its premiere in 2022, the cable giant’s original series, “The Gilded Age,” a drama focused on New York City’s 19th century elite, has brought renewed intrigue to the Ocean State’s “Gold Coast.”

“I think the show itself has put Newport back on this global sphere,” Cassandra Earle, communications director for Discover Newport, told the Globe. “We’ve had interest from people from across the globe coming to Newport because of this series.”

And for fans of the show, it’s easy to get up close with the glamour gracing their television screens.

The production has filmed scenes for its two seasons in the storied properties that line scenic Bellevue Avenue and other locations around the city that have long been museums open to the public. (The series will be back to film this fall, as HBO readies for Season 3, Earle confirmed.)

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“[The series] brings … a nice light to the Gilded Age time period, which a lot of people were not familiar with and didn’t understand,” said Melanie Garcia, director of visitor experience for the Preservation Society of Newport County, which maintains the Newport Mansions. “And that’s what we’re all about here.”

So, are you thinking about a “Gilded Age” inspired trip to Newport? Here are a few ideas to consider when stepping back in time:

Exploring the grounds

The collection of historic properties known as the Newport Mansions spans six sites, including The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer, Kingscote, and the Green Animals Topiary Garden, all open to the public.

While self-led and guided tours are staple offerings regularly available to visitors, devoted fans of the HBO series may be most interested in the mansions’ show-specific tour.

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On the popular “Inside ‘The Gilded Age’ Tour,” attendees are shown the rooms at four of the mansions where scenes of the show were filmed and get the “inside scoop on what it takes to host a major television production,” the website for the Newport Mansions boasts.

“I think definitely people who come on the tour have a passion for the show,” Garcia said. “They’ve been watching it, and they’re really excited to see places that it was filmed at. A lot of people really enjoy getting that behind the scenes information.”

Tickets a $200 each for Preservation Society members and $250 each for nonmembers to The Elms, Marble House, The Breakers, and Chateau-sur-Mer, where refreshments are served on the porch.

A peek inside the Marble House mansion in Newport, R.I. George Gray

“It is kind of like a whirlwind tour,” Garcia said, adding ticket-holders receive guest passes to be able to return to the four properties at their own leisure.

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Tickets are $200 each for Preservation Society members and $250 each for nonmembers. Those interested should act soon, as the tour is only offered select times throughout the year, and for now, the next string of tours are booking for Tuesdays and Fridays in September and spots are limited, Garcia said.

HBO fans looking to take in even more of the show’s setting may want to venture over to the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Bellevue Avenue, where some of the show’s scenes were filmed on the facility’s Horseshoe Court. There is no charge for the public to stroll the grounds, according to Megan Erbes, director of communications for the Hall of Fame.

Taking in tea time

For a sophisticated experience, consider taking in afternoon tea at the Chinese Tea House, located on the same property as the Marble House, the 1892 mansion William Vanderbilt built for his wife, Alva.

Through Sept. 2, afternoon tea and dining is offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and on Labor Day, before switching to only Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, according to the website.

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Discover Newport, the city’s visitor center, also offers other suggestions for visitors craving the afternoon tea experience.

Getting around in style

Newport Classic Car Co. offers visitors tours around Newport, R.I., in antique cars, such as the 1928 Studebaker convertible shown here. Brian Kelly/20eight2 productions

While historians may note the Gilded Age technically ended before the first shots of World War I were fired in 1914, who would turn down a ride in a classic, 1920s car?

Take a drive back in time with Newport Classic Car Co., which offers various private group tours around Newport, including trips to the mansions, in authentic antique cars, such as a 1924 Studebaker convertible, starting at $45 per person.

“We stop in front of each home narrate it, tell you about it. And some of our packages do include admission,” owner Ken Hudson said. “It all depends on which one you do.”

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Hudson also operates Newport Classic Yacht Co., which offers private sightseeing cruises on a 42-foot 1928 antique wooden commuter yacht, once owned by a wealthy family of Bostonians nearly a century ago.

“You do see mansions that are on the inner harbor that you will not see from the street side in the car,” Hudson said. “So it does also provide a little extra experience.”

Pricing for the boat charter begins at $400 and varies by cruise.

Staying at an historic inn

“Gilded Age” fans looking for an-around-the-clock immersive experience can also consider booking a two-night stay at the historic Castle Hill Inn on Ocean Avenue.

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The 1874 inn, initially built as one of Newport’s “summer cottages,” offers a special package inspired by the HBO series that includes daily breakfast and afternoon tea, a “tasting-menu” experience for two at Aurelia at Castle Hill, two mansion tickets, and access to a self-guided audio tour of Newport’s Cliff Walk, among other perks. Pricing starts at $1,300 per night.


Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.





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Ranking Rhode Island’s Most Popular Charity License Plates – Rhode Island Monthly

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Ranking Rhode Island’s Most Popular Charity License Plates – Rhode Island Monthly


When it comes to expressing ourselves, Rhode Islanders have elevated license plates to an art form. You might not be able to get a new vanity plate — the state suspended applications in 2021 after a judge ruled a Tesla owner could keep his FKGAS plates — but you can still express your Rhody pride with one of seventeen state-approved charity plates. The program has funded ocean research, thrown parades, saved crumbling lighthouses and even provided meals for residents. About half of the $43.50 surcharge goes to the associated charity, while the other half covers the production cost.

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License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Atlantic Shark Institute

Year first approved: 2022

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Plates currently on road: 7,007

Total raised: $269,530

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Plum Lighthouse

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse

Year first approved: 2009

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Plates currently on road: 5,024

Total raised: $336,890

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Wildlife

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island

Year first approved: 2013

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Plates currently on road: 2,102

Funds raised: $32,080

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Rocky Point 1

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Rocky Point Foundation

Year first approved: 2016

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Plates currently on road: 1,616

Funds raised: $50,450

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Food Bank

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Rhode Island Community Food Bank

Year first approved: 2002

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Plates currently on road: 765

Funds raised since 2021: $11,060*

*Prior to 2021, customers ordered plates directly through the food bank, and total revenue numbers are not available.

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Patriots

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

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New England Patriots Charitable Foundation

Year first approved: 2009

Plates currently on road: 1,472

Funds raised: $136,740

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Conservation

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

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Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Save the Bay

Year first approved: 2006

Plates currently on road: 1,132

Funds raised: $61,380 for each organization (proceeds split evenly)

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Bruins 1

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Boston Bruins Foundation

Year first approved: 2014

Plates currently on road: 1,125

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Funds raised: $36,880

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Beavertail

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association

Year first approved: 2023

Plates currently on road: 1,105

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Funds raised: $37,610

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Fourth Of July

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Bristol Fourth of July Committee

Year first approved: 2011

Plates currently on road: 1,104

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Funds raised: $17,640

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Red Sox

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Red Sox Foundation

Year first approved: 2011

Plates currently on road: 860

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Funds raised: $88,620

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Gloria Gemma

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation

Year first approved: 2012

Plates currently on road: 1,510

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Funds raised: $33,360

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Pc Friars

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Providence College Angel Fund

Year first approved: 2016

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Plates currently on road: 693

Funds raised: $23,220

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Rose Island

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Rose Island Lighthouse and Fort Hamilton Trust

Year first approved: 2022

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Plates currently on road: 383

Funds raised: $10,640

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Ponham Lighthouse

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse

Year first approved: 2022

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Plates currently on road: 257

Funds raised: $7,580

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Portugal

License plate images courtesy of the Rhode island division of motor vehicles.

Day of Portugal and Portuguese Heritage in RI Inc.

Year first APPROVED: 2018

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Plates currently on road: 132

Funds raised: $3,190





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Rhode Island AG to unveil long-awaited report on Diocese of Providence clergy abuse

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Rhode Island AG to unveil long-awaited report on Diocese of Providence clergy abuse


PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha will release on Wednesday findings from a multiyear investigation into child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

According to the attorney general’s office, the report will detail the diocese’s handling of clergy abuse over decades.

While the smallest state in the U.S., Rhode Island is home to the country’s largest Catholic population per capita, with nearly 40% of the state identifying as Catholic, according to the Pew Research Center.

Neronha first launched the investigation in 2019, nearly a year after a Pennsylvania grand jury report found more than 1,000 children had been abused by an estimated 300 priests in that state since the 1940s. The 2018 report is considered one of the broadest inquiries into child sexual abuse in U.S. history.

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Neronha’s investigation involved entering into an agreement with the Diocese of Providence to gain access to all complaints and allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy dating back to 1950. Neronha’s office said in 2019 that the goal of the report was to determine how the diocese responded to past reports of child sexual abuse, identify any prosecutable cases, and ensure that no credibly accused clergy were in active ministry.

Rhode Island State Police also helped with the investigation.



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St. Patrick’s Day 2026: Your Guide To Fun In Rhode Island

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St. Patrick’s Day 2026: Your Guide To Fun In Rhode Island


Rhode Islanders who plan to join in the global celebration of Irish culture can choose from big and small events, including a parade in Providence.

The March 17 holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, and many big events will be held the weekend of March 14-15. Originally a modest, religious feast day honoring the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day today is a vibrant, boisterous holiday observed by millions of people regardless of their heritage.

The Providence parade is March 21.

We’ve rounded up 10 more events to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But first, are you planning an event this spring? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

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Here’s your guide to St. Patrick’s Day fun in Rhode Island:





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