My Visit to the Elms, Can You Believe This is a Summer Cottage?

I just returned from my vacation to New England. I was able to tour the famous mansions of Newport Rhode Island, a must see. I never realized how beautiful the state of Rhode Island truly is. One of the mansions I toured was 'The Elms' a summer cottage

Built by Coal baron Edward Julius Berwind. Hard to imagine this home was only used for 8 weeks out of the year for summering in Newport. The home cost $1.5 dollars to build at the turn of the century and would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $35 million in today's dollars.

The Elms was one of the first homes in America to be wired for electricity with no form of backup system. The house also included one of the first electrical ice makers. It was one of the most sophisticated houses of the time.