Chateau-sur-Mer

From the mid-19th through the early 20th century, Newport, Rhode Island was a favorite summer destination for the Gilded Age's richest scions. These grotesquely wealthy families built opulent summer homes there, throwing enormous parties and generally consuming as conspicuously as possible. Today, some of these mansions have been made open to the public under the aegis of the Preservation Society of Newport County.

The Chateau-sur-Mer was one of the first of these mansions to be built, predating the Vanderbilts' Newport houses by several decades. The house was designed and built in 1852 by architect Seth C. Bradford in the High Victorian style for the China trade merchant William Shepard Wetmore.

During the 1870's, the house was remodeled and redecorated by the architect Richard Morris Hunt, who brought a Second Empire French Style of architecture into the mix. Though Hunt thoroughly altered the look of the mansion, significant parts of Bradford's original vision remained. As a result, the mansion currently stands as an excellent exemplar for several schools of architectural and artistic aesthetics of the entire 19th century.

For reference, the Preservation Society of Newport County has made the following mission statement regarding their historic houses:

Great Houses connect people to a nation’s heritage and open windows to another age. 
The Preservation Society of Newport County is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect, preserve, and present an exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes in one of the most historically intact cities in America.
We hold in public trust the Newport Mansions which are an integral part of the living fabric of Newport, Rhode Island. These sites exemplify three centuries of the finest achievements in American architecture, decorative arts, and landscape design spanning the Colonial era to the Gilded Age.
Through our historic properties, educational programs, and related activities we engage the public in the story of America’s vibrant cultural heritage.
We seek to inspire and promote an appreciation of the value of preservation to enrich the lives of people everywhere.