Richard Morris Hunt, Rendering for East Elevation of William K. and Alva Vanderbilt’s Marble House, ca. 1888. Courtesy of the Hunt Collection in the AIA/AAF Collection, Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress, Washington D.C.

Richard Morris Hunt: In a New Light
Closing Sunday, November 2, 2025
Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Ave. Newport, RI

These are the final days to experience Richard Morris Hunt: In a New Light, an exhibition exploring the life and legacy of Richard Morris Hunt (1827–1895), America’s premier Gilded Age architect. Hunt’s lifelong effort to transform both the built and cultural landscapes of the United States remains his greatest legacy.

Reexamining Hunt’s achievements from a fresh perspective, the exhibition reveals how his life’s work reflected a pursuit of national pride in art and architecture. His designs—spanning private residences, public institutions, businesses, recreational spaces, and civic buildings—helped shape a built environment that mirrored the rapid transformations of the 19th century.

For the first time, materials from the Library of Congress, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Vermont Historical Society, Bennington Museum, and the Preservation Society’s own collection are displayed together—featuring architectural drawings, personal sketchbooks, family artifacts, and more.

As part of the visitor experience, sketchbooks are available in Gallery 3 to encourage guests to reflect on the exhibition’s images and objects—including depictions of Hunt himself—and to create their own interpretations.

Be sure to catch the exhibition before it closes—and start sketching!

To learn more, click here.