In the late 1950’s, after two failed marriages and the loss of a premature baby, Doris’s interest in Newport was rekindled, and from 1958 to 1962, she furnished the house with many of its original contents, as well as adding her own choice of art and antiques. Doris moved back in 1962, and subsequently spent some of her time from May to November in Newport. During that period, having become very involved with the preservation of historic Newport, she was able to save historic houses from the wrecking balls and subsequently restore and modernize them so they could be rented or sold. Doris died in 1993, leaving a fortune of over $1 billion that was used to fund The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. This foundation, amongst many other things, supports the house museums at Rough Point and Whitehorne as well as the 70 historic houses that she successfully saved in
In the late 1950’s, after two failed marriages and the loss of a premature baby, Doris’s interest in Newport was rekindled, and from 1958 to 1962, she furnished the house with many of its original contents, as well as adding her own choice of art and antiques. Doris moved back in 1962, and subsequently spent some of her time from May to November in Newport. During that period, having become very involved with the preservation of historic Newport, she was able to save historic houses from the wrecking balls and subsequently restore and modernize them so they could be rented or sold. Doris died in 1993, leaving a fortune of over $1 billion that was used to fund The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. This foundation, amongst many other things, supports the house museums at Rough Point and Whitehorne as well as the 70 historic houses that she successfully saved in