Marble House in Newport.

I’ve been a ton of times and I bet you have too.

The one spectacular thing I’m embarrassed to admit I missed over all my years of going to the NPT Mansions is the Chinese style tea house out on the back lawn that overlooks the water.

It wasn’t until 2019 that I finally got myself over there and got a good look at the gorgeous structure that Alva Vanderbilt Belmont had built beginning in 1912 — after her 2nd husband had died (more about all that in a second) and she was rallying the ladies of Newport and beyond around the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

Okay, let’s get into the gossip-y drama for a minute or two: Alva’s first husband, W.K. Vanderbilt, a grandson of the railroad tycoon Cornelius, had Marble House built for her as a birthday present for her 39th.

She ultimately divorced him after he was (allegedly) less than faithful, marrying his friend Oliver Belmont (she had been quoted as saying that you marry the first time for money and the second for love although Belmont was certainly no slouch in the wealth department), and moving across the street to Belcourt.

After her second husband died, however, she moved back (she’d kept Marble House as part of the divorce settlement from W.K.) and started work on the absolutely exquisite Tea House.

She brought in her go-to architects Hunt & Hunt from New York City, whose design for it was inspired by 12th century Sung dynasty temples, as well as builders directly from China. (And we think those homes on the AD or Architectural Digest online tours are a big deal!)

Now, flash forward to 1977 when the Tea House was moved back 75 feet from the edge of the property for safety reasons, and then to 2016 when it underwent a big renovation.

Update: These last few years, Stoneacre restaurant in NPT actually started hosting afternoon (tea) brunches there. I haven’t been, but I hear they’re super fun.

This Post Has Been Updated From One That Has Appeared Previously On The Site.