Rosecliff
Rosecliff is a Preservation Society mansion at 548 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, built between 1899 and 1902 for Theresa Fair Oelrichs, and Newport Classical concerts take place in its ballroom, the largest in Newport, or out on the terrace. Parking on the grounds is free, including handicap spaces, and the RIPTA Route 67 trolley stops at the house. The mansion is partly accessible: ramps and a staff-operated elevator serve the first and second floors, but the restrooms and Museum Store are 27 stairs down in the basement.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Both: Newport Classical concerts are in the ballroom or outside on the terrace
- Official site
- newportmansions.org
- Next festival here
- Newport Classical Music Festival, Jul 1 to 18, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- The main restrooms and the Museum Store are in the basement, 27 stairs down, and the elevator does not go there; there is one handicapped restroom on the first floor.
- The handicapped parking stalls are 345 feet from the main entrance, and no wheelchairs are available on site.
- Only water in a sealable container can be consumed inside; food, gum and other drinks stay outside.
- Strollers are not allowed inside the mansion; there is stroller parking near the entrance.
- Arrive after the music starts and you wait outside until the ushers seat you between pieces.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Free parking on the grounds · Route 67 trolley stops at the house · Partly accessible, elevator to two floors.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a chamber concert in a Gilded Age ballroom or on an ocean-facing terrace
- You are arriving by trolley or bike rather than car
- You are bringing children and can keep them with you throughout
Think twice if
- Stairs are hard for you and you will need the restrooms during the evening
- You want to bring your own food or drink
- You are likely to arrive after the music has started
Getting there and parking
Rosecliff is at 548 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Parking is free on the grounds, and there are two designated handicapped parking stalls, 345 feet from the main entrance of the house. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority's Route 67 trolley stops at Rosecliff, and there is secure bicycle parking on site.
As a museum, Rosecliff is open daily from June 26 to November 1 for self-guided and audio tours, with a ticket for a specific date and entry time; in September 2026 the hours are 9am to 4pm with last admission at 3pm.
Festival-specific · Newport Classical Music FestivalFree parking, including handicap spaces, is available at the venue for concerts, and doors open 30 minutes before each concert starts. Allow time to park.
Accessibility
Rosecliff is partially accessible. Ramps and an elevator connect the first and second floors; the elevator is 34 inches wide and 42 inches deep and is operated by a Preservation Society staff member. Personal wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walkers and rollators can be used throughout, and where a route is tight, staff lead people with mobility devices around a different pathway between rooms. There is a handicapped restroom on the first floor, service dogs are welcome, and ASL interpretation for guided tours and programs can be arranged with at least three weeks notice.
The elevator does not reach the basement, where the Museum Store and the main restrooms are, and there are 27 stairs from the first floor down to it. Some of the rose garden pathways are loose gravel, wheelchairs are not available to borrow, and the handicapped parking stall is 345 feet from the entrance.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (newportmansions.org).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Rosecliff. The venue's own pages are the place to check: newportmansions.org.
Food, water and what you can bring
Food, gum and drinks are not permitted inside the mansion, apart from water in a sealable container. Purses, camera bags and knapsacks are fine to carry, but suitcases, carry-on luggage, duffel bags and oversized bags are not, and strollers stay in the stroller parking near the entrance. Non-commercial interior photography is allowed, though selfie sticks, tripods, flash and stairway photography are prohibited, and there is no smoking or vaping anywhere on the property.
Festival-specific · Newport Classical Music FestivalCameras and recording equipment are prohibited at concerts.
Sound and sensory
At Newport Classical concerts cameras and recording equipment are prohibited, and anyone arriving after the music starts waits outside and is seated between pieces. Audience attire runs the gamut and patrons wear what is comfortable.
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Quick answers
Is parking free at Rosecliff?
Yes. Parking is free on the grounds, with two designated handicapped stalls 345 feet from the main entrance, and for Newport Classical concerts free parking including handicap spaces is available at the venue.
Can I get to Rosecliff without a car?
Yes. The RIPTA Route 67 trolley stops at Rosecliff, and there is secure bicycle parking on site.
Is Rosecliff wheelchair accessible?
Partly. Ramps and a staff-operated elevator serve the first and second floors, personal wheelchairs and scooters can be used throughout, and there is a handicapped restroom on the first floor. The basement, with the Museum Store and main restrooms, is 27 stairs down with no elevator, and some rose garden paths are loose gravel.
Can I bring food or a drink into Rosecliff?
No. Food, gum and drinks are not permitted inside the mansion, with the one exception of water in a sealable container.
Can I bring a bag or a stroller into Rosecliff?
Purses, camera bags and knapsacks are fine. Suitcases, duffel bags and oversized bags are not allowed, and strollers stay outside in the stroller parking near the entrance.
Can I bring children to Rosecliff?
Yes. Children under 16 must be with a parent or adult caregiver at all times inside the mansion and on the grounds, and children under 6 get free general admission to the museum.
What time should I arrive for a Newport Classical concert at Rosecliff?
Doors open 30 minutes before the concert, and it is worth allowing time to park. If you arrive after the music has started you wait outside and are seated between pieces.
Can I camp at Rosecliff?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Rosecliff. The venue's own pages at newportmansions.org are the place to check.
A little history
Rosecliff was built between 1899 and 1902 for Theresa Fair Oelrichs. It has the largest ballroom in Newport and a celebrated heart-shaped grand staircase, and the house looks out over the Atlantic. Children under 16 must be with a parent or adult caregiver at all times inside the mansion and on the grounds.
Rosecliff is one of the festival's mansion venues, with concerts in the ballroom or on the terrace. Doors open 30 minutes before the start, anyone arriving after the music begins waits outside and is seated between pieces, and audience attire runs the gamut, so wear what is comfortable.