The Breakers is one of the many mansions built for the Vanderbilts. This one, finished in 1895, measures around 65,000 square feet inside a 13 acre estate. It is one of the numerous properties in the prestigious Bellevue Avenue Historic District in Newport, Rhode Island, and the grandest of all the summer “cottages” in the area.

As the original building in the property burned to the ground, Cornelius Vanderbilt II made sure that the same fortune will not fall on his $7 million mansion. He made it a point that the house will be as fireproof as possible, using wood as minimal as possible.

Today, the Breakers is run by the Preservation Society of Newport County after purchasing the property in 1972. However, the Vanderbilts are still allowed to take residence on the third floor which is off limits to tourists.