The Company of the Redwood Library was created in 1747 by Abraham Redwood and forty-four other colonists in Newport with the goal of establishing a library that was open to members who sustained the institution with by paying a subscription fee. The building was designed by America’s first architect, Peter Harrison and when it was complete, it was the first Neo-Classical public building within the American Colonies. Of all the libraries founded during the colonial period, the Redwood Athenaeum is the only one operating and still housed in its original building.
Aside from being associated with John Griswold and home to the Newport Art Museum, the Griswold House is also closely linked to famed 19th century architect, Richard Hunt Morris. The stick-style house was designed by Hunt, completed in 1864 and was home to China trader, diplomat and railroad magnate, John Griswold, until his death in 1909. It was then purchased by the Art Association of Newport in 1915 and repurposed into an art school and gallery. The Association expanded the structure by connecting its stables to its rear ell and added the Howard Gardiner Cushing Memorial Gallery to the property in 1920. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000.
The Newport Tower is the controversial stone structure that stands at the top of a slope in Rhode Island. It has been called the Viking Tower, Old Stone Mill, and Mystery Tower. The tower can be found surrounded by a gate in Touro Park as the park’s focal point. Today it is 24 feet tall but it used to be bigger.
Completed in 1857 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 2012, this historic church edifice served as the United Congregational Church and was designed by Joseph C. Wells. The building is also closely associated with artist John La Farge who decorated its interior with his unique stained-glass windows and murals on its ceiling and walls in 1880-81. Built of Connecticut brownstone, the church served the spiritual needs of the Congregational community into the 21st century. However, it is no longer a house of worship and is currently undergoing a multi-year restoration under the auspices of the nonprofit La Farge Restoration Fund. The structure is currently open for tours and is utilized as a special events venue. The church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012.
Designed by local master carpenter, Richard Munday, Trinity Church was completed in 1726 and is still an active parish within the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. The congregation can trace its origins back to 1698 and the current Trinity Church replaced the original version built c.1702. The church features its original chalice-shaped, central pulpit; alter table and bell sent to the parish by Queen Anne in 1702. Trinity was expanded in 1762 and its iconic steeple was rebuilt in 1768. It went through a major renovation in the 1980s and was repainted its original color soon after. Trinity Church has been designated a National Historic Landmark since 1968.
The Vernon House is located on Clark Street in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, just blocks away from the water. It is a historic Georgian-style colonial era house that was likely built around 1700. Early records indicate that a painter named William Gibbs owned the home in 1708. During the American Revolution, the house served as the headquarters for the French general Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau (1725-1807). Rochambeau was the commander of French forces in Newport from 1780 to 1783. The Vernon House was designated as a National Historic Landmark and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1968. However, it is not open to the public.
The Museum of the Artillery Company of Newport features an extensive collection of military uniforms and artillery pieces. The museum is located in the Newport Artillery Company armory, which was built in 1835 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The Newport Artillery Company was chartered in 1741, making it the oldest military unit in the United States operating under its original charter.
The Touro Synagogue (not to be confused with the synagogue of the same name in New Orleans) is the oldest synagogue still standing in the United States, North America, and the only one surviving from the Colonial Era. It was built in 1763 and designed by architect Peter Harrison who, interestingly, was not Jewish; he was, however, one of the best architects of the time. Today, the building continues to function as a synagogue and is operated by the Touro Synagogue Foundation. The foundation also maintains a nearby visitor's center which contains various exhibits that explore the history of the building and the Jewish community in Newport, and other related topics. The synagogue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a U.S. National Historic Site.
The Old Colony House in Newport, Rhode Island is one of the oldest remaining statehouses in the United States. It is believed to be the fourth oldest statehouse still standing in the nation. Architect Richard Munday designed the Old Colony House in the Georgian style, popular for its symmetry and classic proportions. The state legislature met here during the American Revolution and then alternated between the Colony House and the Rhode Island Statehouse in Providence until 1901. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 (also known as the Old Statehouse). It recently underwent an extensive renovation between 2010 and 2012 before it reopened to the public. Today, the Newport Historical Society operates the Colony House and offers tours during the summer.
The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House is one of the oldest houses in Newport, Rhode Island. Records indicate that it was built around 1697 for a Newport merchant named Stephen Mumford. Besides its age, it is significant in that its architecture reflects the transition from the 17th to the 18th centuries. It is owned by the Newport Historical Society and is currently operated as a historic house museum. The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House was among the first properties in Rhode Island to be designated a National Historic Landmark (1960). It has also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1966).
The Great Friends Meeting House is a Quaker house of worship and historic building built in 1699. The meeting house, located in downtown Newport, is the oldest surviving house of worship in Rhode Island, and it is now part of the Newport Historic District and open as a museum owned by the Newport Historical Society. The Society of Friends, a Quaker organization, spread to the New England colonies in the 1640s. At the time, the Quakers were persecuted for their then-radical beliefs, but in the Newport area in the 18th century, the Quakers dominated local political, social, and economic life. The meeting house was the center of this activity until the departure of the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends in 1905. The building was used as a recreational center for some time after, and eventually became the prominent center for the African-American community (it was used as the Martin Luther King center up until the 1970s). The Meeting House, now a museum, is a contributing property to Newport’s U.S. Historic District.
The White Horse Tavern, located in Newport, Rhode Island, is the oldest running tavern in America. The building was constructed in 1652, and was originally the two-story home of Francis Brinley. In 1673, it was acquired by William Mayes, Sr., who turned it into the tavern that it is today. Since a limited group of people read in those times, public establishments used symbols to define themselves, and a white horse signified a tavern, hence the building's name.
The Museum of Newport History was created by the Newport Historical Society in the Old Brick Market building in 1993. Completed in 1772, the Old Brick Market housed an open-air market and arcade on its first floor, while various offices and ventures occupied its top two floors over the centuries. The building served as Newport’s City Hall during the second half of the 19th century and underwent extensive renovations in the late 1920s. Owned by the city and managed by the Newport Historical Society, it now serves as a museum that documents the history of Newport County from the town’s settlement in 1639 through the 20th century. It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1960.
Cardines Field is a small baseball stadium in Newport, Rhode Island. The field was created sometime between 1893 and 1908, and has underwent several renovations to become the park that it is today. Through renovations in 1938 and 2000, the field now has a capacity of 3500 people. Though small, the field is well used, being home to Rogers High School, Newport's Babe Ruth League, The Sunset League, Newport's American Legion team, Salve Regina University, the Naval Academy Preparatory School, and the Newport Gulls.
The Hunter House is a historic home located in Newport, Rhode Island. It may have been built as early as 1719, years before Newport became a popular spot for wealthy families to build their glamorous summer “cottages.” Several owners made additions and renovations to the home over the years. Today, it is owned and operated as a historic house museum by the Preservation Society of Newport County. The Hunter House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1968.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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One of several walking tours in the area, this tour begins near the iconic Newport Tower and moves north with stops at a variety of landmarks and museums in the heart of this famous New England town.
