Photos show the lavish interiors of The Elms, a Rhode Island mansion built for a coal millionaire in the Gilded Age

Talia LakritzSep 2, 2024, 21:20 IST

The Elms in Newport, Rhode Island.bodhichita/Shutterstock<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Elms in Newport, Rhode Island, was the Berwind family's summer home.</li><li>Edward Julius Berwind made his fortune as a coal tycoon who powered railroads during the Gilded Age.</li></ul>In 1901, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vintage-photos-how-americas-rich-tycoons-lived-during-gilded-age-2023-3">Gilded Age</a> coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind and his wife, Sarah Herminie Berwind, spent $1.4 million, or around $28 million today, to build a summer home in Newport, Rhode Island.It was a fraction of the $31.4 million fortune he left when he died in 1936 — around $774 million in today's dollars.Modeled after an 18th-century French château and built on a 10-acre estate, The Elms was furnished by Jules Allard, a French interior designer who also worked on other Newport mansions including <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gilded-age-mansion-vanderbilt-rhode-island-breakers-photos-2024-8">The Breakers</a> and <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vanderbilt-mansion-rhode-island-marble-house-2024-8">Marble House</a>.Today, The Elms is a museum and occasional film set for HBO's "<a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-gilded-age-cast-character-breakdown-past-projects-hbo-2022-2">The Gilded Age</a>."Take a look inside.

The Elms was built in 1901 for Gilded Age coal tycoon Edward Julius Berwind and his wife, Sarah Herminie Berwind.

The Elms.Gavin Ashworth — The Preservation Society of Newport County

The architect, Horace Trumbauer, modeled the design after Château d'Asnières, an 18th-century French château.

Château d'Asnières.Franck Legros/Shutterstock

Walking into the impressive foyer, it was hard to believe that The Elms was once set to be demolished.

The foyer of The Elms.George Gray — The Preservation Society of Newport County

Edward Berwind's Renaissance-style library featured dark woods and dark red furnishings.

The Library.George Gray — The Preservation Society of Newport County

In the Conservatory, the Berwinds enjoyed views of the gardens with the soundtrack of an indoor fountain.

Statues and a fountain in the Conservatory.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Conservatory also featured original statues from Chateau D'Asnieres, the French inspiration for The Elms.

The Conservatory at The Elms.Gavin Ashworth — The Preservation Society of Newport County

The Drawing Room was decorated to look like it came straight out of 18th-century France.

The Drawing Room.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Interior designer Jules Allard created custom Louis XV-style furniture for The Elms' Drawing Room.

Furniture in the Drawing Room.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Drawing Room also displayed pieces from the Berwinds' art collection, including a painting titled "Dawn" by Jacob de Wit on the ceiling.

"Dawn" by Jacob de Wit.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Berwinds hosted a lavish housewarming party for 400 guests in their ballroom in 1901.

The Ballroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Trumbauer designed The Elms to resemble the one-way layout of French palaces while also allowing guests to circulate through the rooms.

Another view of the Ballroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Berwinds ate meals in the Dining Room, where staff served anywhere between 12 and 16 courses.

The Dining Room.Gavin Ashworth — The Preservation Society of Newport County

Canvases on the walls, acquired from a Venetian palace, depicted Roman general Scipio Africanus.

Paintings in the Dining Room.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

In the Breakfast Room, panels from 18th-century China covered the walls.

The Breakfast Room.Gavin Ashworth — The Preservation Society of Newport County

The Butler's Pantry was the last stop before plates of food entered the Dining Room or Breakfast Room.

The Butler's Pantry.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The tour continued upstairs in the Stair Hall, which featured marble columns and a marble table.

The Stair Hall.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Julia Berwind slept in this room with yellow curtains and a four-poster bed.

Julia Berwind's bedroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Sarah Herminie Berwind's bedroom appears as Gladys Russell's bedroom in HBO's "The Gilded Age."

Sarah Herminie Berwind's bedroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Edward Julius Berwind's bedroom was undergoing preservation work during my visit, which provided a fascinating look into how these historic mansions are maintained and restored.

Edward Julius Berwind's bedroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Edward Julius Berwind's bedroom was undergoing preservation work during my visit, which provided a fascinating look into how these historic mansions are maintained and restored.

The bathrooms at The Elms were the height of luxury in the Gilded Age.

Sarah Herminie Berwind's bathroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

They included furnishings like ornate glass light fixtures.

A light fixture in Edward Julius Berwind's bathroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Edward Julius Berwind's bathroom also included a call button that would summon his personal valet.

A call button in Edward Julius Berwind's bathroom.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Sitting Room on the second floor was a private family space.

The Sitting Room.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The skylight in the upstairs hallway was actually a glass floor in the staff quarters that let in light from another skylight.

A hallway with a skylight.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

On the way down to the basement, the tour stopped on the second floor of the Butler's Pantry.

The second floor of the Butler's Pantry.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The audio tour pointed out the wisteria trees planted to cover the service entrance at The Elms.

Wisteria covered the service entrance.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Fans of "The Gilded Age" might recognize the Main Kitchen at The Elms as the Russell family's kitchen.

The Main Kitchen.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Cold dishes were prepared in a separate cold kitchen away from the sweltering heat of the main kitchen's large coal stove.

The cold kitchen.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Once the interior tour of The Elms was complete, there were still 10 acres of grounds to explore.

The sunken garden at The Elms.Actium/Shutterstock

While The Elms didn't have ocean views like other Newport mansions, it did feature incredible works of art and architecture.

The Elms.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The 5 US states with the best wineries, according to a sommelier

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Photos show the lavish interiors of The Elms, a Rhode Island mansion built for a coal millionaire in the Gilded Age

The Elms was built in 1901 for Gilded Age coal tycoon Edward Julius Berwind and his wife, Sarah Herminie Berwind.

The architect, Horace Trumbauer, modeled the design after Château d'Asnières, an 18th-century French château.

Walking into the impressive foyer, it was hard to believe that The Elms was once set to be demolished.

Edward Berwind's Renaissance-style library featured dark woods and dark red furnishings.

In the Conservatory, the Berwinds enjoyed views of the gardens with the soundtrack of an indoor fountain.

The Conservatory also featured original statues from Chateau D'Asnieres, the French inspiration for The Elms.

The Drawing Room was decorated to look like it came straight out of 18th-century France.

Interior designer Jules Allard created custom Louis XV-style furniture for The Elms' Drawing Room.

The Drawing Room also displayed pieces from the Berwinds' art collection, including a painting titled "Dawn" by Jacob de Wit on the ceiling.

The Berwinds hosted a lavish housewarming party for 400 guests in their ballroom in 1901.

Trumbauer designed The Elms to resemble the one-way layout of French palaces while also allowing guests to circulate through the rooms.

The Berwinds ate meals in the Dining Room, where staff served anywhere between 12 and 16 courses.

Canvases on the walls, acquired from a Venetian palace, depicted Roman general Scipio Africanus.

In the Breakfast Room, panels from 18th-century China covered the walls.

The Butler's Pantry was the last stop before plates of food entered the Dining Room or Breakfast Room.

The tour continued upstairs in the Stair Hall, which featured marble columns and a marble table.

Julia Berwind slept in this room with yellow curtains and a four-poster bed.

Sarah Herminie Berwind's bedroom appears as Gladys Russell's bedroom in HBO's "The Gilded Age."

Edward Julius Berwind's bedroom was undergoing preservation work during my visit, which provided a fascinating look into how these historic mansions are maintained and restored.

The bathrooms at The Elms were the height of luxury in the Gilded Age.

They included furnishings like ornate glass light fixtures.

Edward Julius Berwind's bathroom also included a call button that would summon his personal valet.

The Sitting Room on the second floor was a private family space.

The skylight in the upstairs hallway was actually a glass floor in the staff quarters that let in light from another skylight.

On the way down to the basement, the tour stopped on the second floor of the Butler's Pantry.

The audio tour pointed out the wisteria trees planted to cover the service entrance at The Elms.

Fans of "The Gilded Age" might recognize the Main Kitchen at The Elms as the Russell family's kitchen.

Cold dishes were prepared in a separate cold kitchen away from the sweltering heat of the main kitchen's large coal stove.

Once the interior tour of The Elms was complete, there were still 10 acres of grounds to explore.

While The Elms didn't have ocean views like other Newport mansions, it did feature incredible works of art and architecture.