Guest Author - Caroline Baker
How do you experience China without traveling far from home?
In the United States, it's easier than you think. Many of the major cities across the country now suppport a Chinatown, or at least Asian district. The most famous and largest are in New York City, Boston, and San Francisco. Even smaller towns have their local little Asian food store to give one the tastes, smells, and visuals of being in Asian.
But I must admit, one of my deep passions is architecture. I'm always drawn to that little antique store that has the Chinese lions outside. As a child, I'd go almost every year to New York's Metropolitan Museum and spend at least an hour absorbed in the quiet of the Chinese courtyard.
Thus, you can imagine my joy and surprise while visiting the heart of colonial America, Newport, Rhode Island, finding a Chinese Teahouse replication. For those unfamiliar with Rhode Island, the area I speak of is right across the bay from the famed Jamestown, one of the first settlements in the Americas.
During the turn of the century, many of America's richest families, known as the "American Royalty", found the New England coast to be the perfect summer resort. One in particular, the Vanderbilt's, owned the summer cottage known as the Marble House. Nestled on that property, overlooking a view of the Cliff Walk is the Chinese Tea House. Built in 1914 by Mrs. William K Vanderbilt, it has been preserved and now invites many tourist each year. Special functions, like weddings, are held upon the massive wooden floor and beneath the streams of light from the decorative windows. Even outside, there is an impressive Chinese archway to greet all visitors.
Gems like this are located all over America, giving us glimpses of another land and culture. They offer wonderful opportunities to escape with quick and inexpensive road trips.
For more information on all the Newport Mansions, please visit their site and preservation work at
NewportMansions.org.
