WEBVTT ♪ >> CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA BRINGS US TO A CITY STEEPED IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON. FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, CHRISTMAS AT THE NEWPORT MANSIONS HAS BEEN A TOUR FILLED FILLED WITH TRADITION THAT WOULD DRAW 100,000 TOURISTS EVERY SEASON. INSIDE THE UNPARALLELED GRANDIOSITY OF THE BREAKERS, BUILT BY VANDERBILT IN 1892, WE FIND JAWDROPPING DECORATIONS. >> SPECTACULAR. REPORTER: TRUDY COX DIRECTOR OF THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY SAYS MORE THAN A YEAR OF PLANNING GOES INTO EVERY DETAIL. >> OUR PURPOSE REALLY IS TO MAKE PEOPLE OOH AND BE AWED COMPLETELY BY IT. REPORTER: THE FIRST TO GREET, VISITORS, AND ENGINEERING MARVEL OF RED CREATED BY DOZENS OF GREEN THUMBS. >> IT IS 15 FEET HIGH, MADE UP OF 150 POINSETTIAS THAT WE STARTED GROWING IN OUR GREEN HOUSES LAST EASTER. ♪ REPORTER: STANDING IN ONE ROOM, AN EEYE FULL OF HOLIDAY DELIGHT BUT EACH FLOOR IS AN ACRE FILLED WITH SPARKLING WONDER, WHICH MAKES ONE WONDER HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO DECORATE ALL THESE TREES? >> BEGINNING TO MIDDLE OCTOBER WE HAD MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HELPING, MANY OF THEM ARE VOLUNTEERS. IT IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING. REPORTER: SO, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THIS TRADITION IS ONE IN CONTRADICTION TO TIS HISTORY -- ITS HISTORY. >> THESE WERE SUMMER COTTAGES, NOT BEING USED AT CHRISTMAS TIME. SO, EVERYTHING YOU SEE HERE IS OUR STAFF’S OWN IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY. REPORTER: THROUGHOUT THE MANSION TOUR DOZENS OF STUNNING SEEMED TREES. NEW IN THE BREAKERS AND THE ROOM OF MRS. VANDERBILT, THESE RED CARDINALS. TO TOP OFF THE MISTER’S ROOM A TOP HAT AND CENTRAL TO HIS FORTUNE -- A MODEL MAKEUP OF THE NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD. FROM A MOVING LESSON IN HISTORY TO A ROOM THAT WOULD MAKE MARTHA STEWART BLUSH, WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO EAT THIS TABLE? IT IS STUNNING. >> AGREED. HERE WE ARE SET UP FOR ONLY 10 PEOPLE. IMAGINE THIS TABLE CAN BE EXTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE 32 PEOPLE. REPORTER: THE VANDERBILTS HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS. >> THEY DID. THAT MUST’VE BEEN A GLORIOUS EXPERIENCE. REPORTER: A WALK THROUGH THE 70 ROOMS. >> THAT’S IT, WE’RE READY. CHRISTMAS HAS BEGUN. ♪ REPORTER: JUST DOWN THE HILL A WALK OVER COBBLESTONE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY TOUR BROUGHT TO LIGHT. >> YOU HAVE ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON. THEY DECORATE THEIR DOORWAYS. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TOWN TO WALK AROUND. HAVING SOMEONE VERY THE HISTORY. ADDS ANOTHER LAYER TO IT. REPORTER: JENNA WITH NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY SAYS THE CITY’S LANTERN TOURS HAVE BEEN A HOLIDAY FAVORITE FOR A DECADE. >> WE TALK ABOUT HOW PEOPLE IN THE COLONIAL PERIOD WOULD HAVE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH AND THANKSGIVING AND SOME OF THE TRADITIONS WE HAVE TODAY, WE LOOK AT WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE COME FROM. REPORTER: INCLUDING SOME VERY INTERESTING CONNECTIONS TO LONG HELD TRADITIONS. >> WE HAVE MORRIS’ DESK. HE WROTE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. >> AND ALTER THE HOUSE. REPORTER: THOUGH HE LIVED IN NEW YORK WHEN HE OFFERED THE POEM, HE RETIRED IN NEWPORT LEAVING BEHIND THE DESK WHERE HE P ENNED THOSE WORDS. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT. ♪ ♪