Secrets of The Breakers: Private Vanderbilt Residences - Livestream

Event Highlights:

• Explore the private third-floor spaces of the Vanderbilt family and household staff, open to the public for the first time in 129 year
• Delve into the history of the Vanderbilt family’s personal bedrooms, bathrooms, and recreational areas
• Witness the ongoing preservation efforts, showcasing restored sections alongside untouched areas that reveal the effects of time and elements
• Discover decor from different eras, including the 1890s and 1940s, reflecting the evolving use of the third floor by the Vanderbilt family

About the event:

Opening to public tours for the first time in June 2024, the third floor of The Breakers offers a rare glimpse into the private life of the Vanderbilt family. The Preservation Society of Newport County invites you to join their expert guides for an exclusive tour of these historically significant spaces.

Led by the Society’s Director of Museum Affairs and Chief Curator, Leslie B. Jones, this tour will take you through rooms that have been meticulously preserved and others left untouched to show the passage of time. You’ll learn about the ongoing preservation work and the thoughtful decisions behind each restoration effort.
This virtual tour is a sneak peek into the full in-person experience and covers some of the fascinating spaces. For the complete story and a thorough exploration, the in-person tour is a must.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience a living piece of history and gain a deeper understanding of the Vanderbilts’ legacy at one of Newport’s most iconic mansions.

About Leslie Jones

Leslie B. Jones serves as the Director of Museum Affairs and Chief Curator for The Preservation Society of Newport County. She joined the Society in 2019 to oversee curatorial, conservation, collections management, site stewardship, exhibitions, interpretation, and programmatic initiatives such as family programs and lectures. She directs the fellows program, which annually hosts four emerging scholars who focus a year of work on dedicated research opportunities.

Previously, Jones was the Vice President, Museum Affairs & Curator of Decorative Arts at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, a 55-acre botanical garden, art museum, and historic house in Nashville, Tennessee. Before joining Cheekwood, she was Curator and Director of Historical Resources & Programming for the White House Historical Association. Both roles included major preservation projects, including the revitalization of the White House Visitor Center (2014) and the restoration of Cheekwood’s c. 1930s domestic spaces (2017).

As an independent consultant, Jones has provided advice and leadership in all areas of museum administration to many clients, including Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, Mich., the Green-Meldrim House in Savannah, Ga., Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, Va., and Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Jones received her Bachelor’s degree in the history of art and architecture from Miami University in Ohio, a Master’s degree in the history of decorative arts from the Smithsonian Institution’s joint program with the Corcoran College of Art + Design, and another Master’s in the appraisal of fine and decorative art from New York University