This High Victorian gem, dripping in opulent architecture, furniture, wallpapers, ceramics, and stenciling, was the crown jewel of Newport's elite from its grand debut in 1852 until the Vanderbilts strutted in with their mansions in the 1890s.

— sources- thank you!

Newport Historial Society and a little wikipedia

epic party

The year is 1857, and the grounds of Chateau-sur-Mer are buzzing with excitement as over 2,000 of society's finest gather for the “Fete Champetre,” an extravagant country picnic that would go down in history as the party of the century!

You can read an article covering the event in the New York Times (it made the front page!)

Some clippings below:

Fast forward to 1889, and the glittering halls of the chateau play host to the debutante ball of the season for Miss Edith Wetmore.

The original builder was China trade tycoon William Shepard Wetmore and his trusty local contractor, Seth Bradford. Alas, tragedy struck in 1862 when William passed away at 62 years old, leaving his vast fortune to his son, George Peabody Wetmore, and a tidy sum for his daughter, Annie Derby Wetmore (1848-1884).

George (Leo) , wedded the enchanting Edith Malvina Keteltas Wetmore (1848 - 1927) (Sagittarius) in 1869. The pair set off on a whirlwind European tour in the 1870s, entrusting the eccentric architect Richard Morris Hunt to transform their home into a dazzling Second Empire French masterpiece.

The result? A house that captures every major design trend of the 19th century in one flamboyant package. We love it.

But George wasn't just a pretty face; he carved out a prestigious political career, serving as Governor of Rhode Island and a United States Senator. When he passed away in 1921, followed by his beloved Edith in 1927, the legacy of Chateau-sur-Mer fell to their daughters, Edith and Maude, who chose themselves over suitors. QUEENS.