Newport, Rhode Island, is known for its historical significance in early U.S. development, particularly during the Gilded Age. The city features opulent mansions built by wealthy families between 1870 and 1915, symbolizing elite consumption. The Gilded Age refers to a period marked by economic expansion, industrialization, and corruption, coming shortly after the abolition of slavery. HBO's The Gilded Age has returned for a third season, focusing on the vibrant Black community and its connections to affluence and entrepreneurship in Newport.
The Gilded Age period in US history in the late 19th century was a time of great economic expansion, European immigration, industrialization, and widespread political corruption. Coined by author Mark Twain, it describes an era of social ills masked by materialist excess, arising only a decade after the formal abolition of slavery in 1865.
Newport is best known for its opulent Gilded Age mansions—summer "cottages" built by wealthy American families between 1870 and 1915, serving as symbols of elite conspicuous consumption.
The city’s long-standing connection to Black affluence and entrepreneurship is the focus of the latest season of HBO's The Gilded Age, exploring its thriving Black community.
Many estates, including The Breakers and The Elms, are now public museums and have served as set locations for period films, reflecting the historical significance of Newport.
Collection
[
|
...
]