Construction of Rough Point started in 1887 and was commissioned by Frederick W. Vanderbilt, the sixth son of William. At the time of its construction, it was the largest house in Newport, RI and occupied a site of approximately 11 acres which overlooked the craggy rocks and cliffs at the end of Aquidneck Island. Built in the English Manorial style, it was furnished to project the mood of an English country house. The grounds and gardens were designed by the firm of F.L. and J.C. Olmsted. Apparently, life in Newport did not agree with Mr. Vanderbilt, and he sold the house in 1906 to the Leeds family, who sold the house to James Duke in 1922. Mr. Duke was a very wealthy man who owned and founded the American Tobacco Company as well as Duke Energy. He and his wife had spent summers in Newport previously as renters. When Rough Point became available, he purchased it for $375,000. From 1922 to 1924, the house was renovated and substantially enlarged. In 1924,
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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