Over time, wooden cottages were replaced by stone mansions and the building boom peaked between 18, when four American castles were completed just blocks from each other: Marble House (1892), The Breakers (1895), The Elms (1901) and Rosecliff (1902). It was along this stretch that the who's-who of high society-including coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind, Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs, the Astors, and, of course, the Vanderbilts-built summer homes modeled after European palaces. The City by the Sea had gained favor as a popular summer getaway, due to its mild climate and million-dollar ocean views. Instead, the coveted summer address was along Bellevue Avenue in Newport. For the titans of the Gilded Age, the place to be in the summer was not Fifth Avenue in New York or the Champs-Élysées in Paris. What's the number one rule in real estate? Location, location, location. Here's what you'll find when you visit: A chance to walk in famous footsteps The Mansions should be at the top of your list when arriving in Newport, Rhode Island, a seaside city with equal parts coastal views, creative cuisine and cultural activities situated just 90 minutes from Boston and three hours from New York. This, in part, explains why people love to tour the Newport Mansions, a collection of 10 opulent properties that were built as 'summer cottages' and served as playgrounds for the wealthy elite of the late 19th century. We're not judging-it's human nature to be curious about what's behind closed doors-especially when those doors belonged to famous families with lots of drama.

Maybe you're obsessed with home shows like 'House Hunters' and 'Million Dollar Listing.' Maybe you binge-watch period dramas like Netflix’s “Bridgerton” or are one of the 3 million viewers who are eagerly awaiting HBO's second season of 'The Gilded Age.' Or, closer to home, maybe you're a little more active on Zillow than you care to admit.

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