A Polite Visitor in Newport: Houseguests and Hospitality in the Gilded Age

What did it mean to be invited—or not invited—into Newport’s grandest homes? This lecture explores the unwritten rules of hospitality during the Gilded Age, from where guests stayed to how long they were expected to remain. Through stories drawn from Newport’s great houses, we’ll uncover the etiquette, logistics, and social expectations that governed visits among America’s elite—and what happened when those rules were broken.

Marry Gormally is a guide with the Preservation Society of Newport County, where she has spent more than a decade bringing Newport’s historic houses to life for visitors. A former antique dealer and importer of decorative arts, she spent many years sourcing and working with period objects—an experience that continues to inform her eye for detail and appreciation of craftsmanship. Though now a resident of Newport, she first came to the city regularly from nearby North Kingstown, drawn by its history and architectural beauty. She especially enjoys sharing the stories behind the houses—along with the experience of admiring them without having to dust them.