Rhode Island Historic Luxury Homes: Chateau-Sur-Mer

One of the first of Newport, Rhode Island's great "Gilded Era" mansions is Chateu-sur-Mer that was built in 1851 as a Villa for William Shepard Wetmore who had made his fortune in the China Trade. For several decades, it was the scene of Newport's most lavish parties and set the tone as the most palatial mansion in the area for four decades until the Vanderbilt houses in the 1890's.
from: http://ezinearticles.com/?Rhode-Island-Historic-Luxury-Homes:-Chateau-Sur-Mer&id=7759236