Newport County, Rhode Island

Army and Navy YMCA Artillery Park Bailey Farm Baldwin, Charles H., House Barker, Benjamin, House Battle of Rhode Island Site Beavertail Light Bell, Isaac, House Bell, Isaac, Jr., House Bellevue Avenue Historic District Bellevue Avenue/Casino Historic District Bird's Nest, The Borden Farm Bourne Mill Boyd's Windmill Breakers, The Brick Market Castle Hill Lighthouse Chateau-sur-Mer Clambake Club of Newport Clarke Street Meeting House Commandant's Residence, Quarters Number One, Fort Adams Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery Conanicut Battery Conanicut Island Lighthouse Cook-Bateman Farm CORONET (Wooden Hull Schooner Yacht) Cotton, Dr. Charles, House Covell, William King, III, House Dutch Island Lighthouse Elms, The Emmanuel Church Farnham Farm First Baptist Church of Tiverton Fort Adams Fort Barton Site Fort Hamilton Historic District Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Friends Meetinghouse Gale, Levi H., House Greenvale Farm Griswold, John, House Hicks, Joseph, House Hoppin, Hamilton, House Horsehead-Marbella Hunter House Ida Lewis Rock Lighthouse Jamestown Windmill Joseph, Lyman C., House Kay Street-Catherine Street-Old Beach Road Historic District King, Edward, House Kingscote Lawton-Almy-Hall Farm Little Compton Common Historic District Lucas-Johnston House Luce Hall Malbone Malbone, Francis, House Marble House Mawdsley, Capt. John, House Miantonomi Memorial Park Murphy, Dennis J., House at Ogden Farm Newport Artillery Company Armory Newport Casino Newport Harbor Lighthouse Newport Historic District Newport Steam Factory Oak Glen Ocean Drive Historic District Ochre Point-Cliffs Historic District Old Colony House Osborn-Bennett Historic District Paradise School Perry Mill Portsmouth Friends Meetinghouse Parsonage and Cemetery President's House, Naval War College Prudence Island Lighthouse Redwood Library Rhode Island Red Rogers, Joseph, House Rose Island Lighthouse Rosecliff Sakonnet Light Station Seamen's Church Institute of Newport Sherman, William Watts, House Shiloh Church Shoreby Hill Historic District Smith-Gardiner-Norman Farm Historic District Southern Thames Historic District St. George's School-Church of St. George, Little Chapel, and Memorial Schoolhouse St. Mary's Church Complex Stiles, Ezra, House Stone House Inn Stonybrook Estate Historic District Taylor-Chase-Smythe House Tillinghast, Charles, House Tillinghast, John, House Tiverton Four Corners Historic District Touro Synagogue National Historic Site Trinity Church Union Church United Congregational Church US Naval War College Van Rensselaer, Alexander, House Vernon House Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House WEATHERLY (sloop) White Horse Tavern Whitehall Whitehorne, Samuel, House Wilbor House Windmill Hill Historic District Witherbee School Wreck Sites of H.M.S. Cerberus and H.M.S. Lark

A Giant Among Forts Alexander Jack Jr. House Battle of Rhode Island 1778 Bay Islands Park Between the Wars Boats of the Bay Brenton Point Maritime Memorial Brenton Point State Park Buffum-Redwood House Building a Fortress Buliod-Perry House Butts Hill Fort Cap't George Buckmaster House Captain John Warren House Changing Role of the Fort Chateau-sur-Mer & Its Neighbors: A Victorian District Preserved Cliff Walk Cliff Walk Col. Benjamin Church Conanicut Battery Defending From Land Assault Defending Narragansett Bay Eisenhower Park Elisha Johnson House EqyptAir Flight 990 Memorial Erich A. OÂ’D. Taylor Fog Signal Building Fort Adams Fort Adams Fort Adams Foundation Fort Barton Fort Wetherill Foundation of the Original Beavertail Lighthouse Garden of New England Gideon Cornell House Going Great Guns Great Friends Meeting House Green End Fort Harbor Mine (Torpedo) Complex History of the Beavertail Light Station History of the Dumplings HoltÂ’s Trail Hunter House J. Joseph M. Martin James Nicholl House John Adams Jonathan Gibbs House Life in Fort Adams Maj. Gen. Isaac Ingalls Stevens Mary Ferrazzoli Park Memorial to the French Fleet Memorial to the Veterans of Jamestown Militia Common Missing at Sea May 7, 2007 Newport Casino / International Tennis Hall of Fame Newport Harbor Newport Historic District Oil Storage Building Old St. MaryÂ’s Church Old State House Oliver Hazard Perry Perry Portsmouth Compact Portuguese Navigators Monument Portuguese Navigators: Pioneers in Maritime Exploration PrescottÂ’s Headquarters Prospect Hill Returning Old Glory 2001 Rhode Island Marine Memorial Rhode Island Red RI Pilots of Brenton Reef Pilot Station Rochambeau Rosecliff & Its Neighbors: Fading Glamour & Modern Revival Rough Point & Its Neighbors: Preserved Houses Rovensky Park & Its Neighbors: Open Space Preserved S/V Marques Samuel Bours House Site of the Battle of Rhode Island Southwest Battery The 1749 Foundation The 1st Rhode Island Regiment and the Battle of Rhode Island The Assistant Keeper's House The Black Regiment The Breakers The Colony House The Colony House / The State House The Elms & Its Neighbors: The Battle for Historic Preservation The Frederick Law Olmsted Park The Granite Light Tower The Irish Connection to Fort Adams The Isaac Bell House & Its Neighbors: Progressive Architecture The Keeper's House The New Jersey House The Rocky Shore The Tree of Liberty The West Passage to Narragansett Bay Three Tiers of Firepower Tom Robinson House Touro Synagogue U.S.S. Bennington CVA-20 Understanding the Fort W 3 R Washington Square Whale Rock Lighthouse White Horse Tavern Wilbour-Ellery House World War I Memorial Tower
Newport County, located in the state of Rhode Island, has a rich history that dates back to the early colonial period. The area was first settled by European colonists in the early 17th century, and Newport itself was founded in 1639 by a group of religious dissidents seeking religious freedom. The town quickly grew due to its strategic location for trade and commerce, particularly in the shipping industry.

By the 18th century, Newport had become one of the busiest ports in colonial America, serving as a major center for trade with the West Indies and Europe. The city was known for its prosperous merchant class, which built stunning mansions along the waterfront. However, the American Revolution brought significant change to Newport as British forces occupied the city during the war. After the war, the economy gradually declined, and Newport lost its status as a major trading hub.

In the 19th century, Newport experienced a revival as a resort destination for the wealthy elite, who were drawn to the area for its natural beauty and moderate climate. The Gilded Age saw the construction of lavish summer cottages, including the famous Newport Mansions, which are now popular tourist attractions. Newport also became known for hosting prestigious social events, such as the America's Cup sailing race.

The 20th century brought more changes to Newport County. During World War II, the area became an important naval base, with the construction of naval facilities and the presence of the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet. Over time, the naval presence declined, and the local economy shifted towards tourism and education. Today, Newport County continues to attract visitors with its historic sites, museums, scenic coastline, and vibrant cultural scene.
Brief timeline of the history of Newport County, Rhode Island:

  • 1639: Newport County is founded by settlers from Massachusetts
  • 1640: First European settlement is established in Newport
  • 1650: Newport becomes a thriving colonial port and center of trade
  • 1677: The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is established, with Newport County as one of its four original counties
  • 1758: The British establish a military base in Newport during the French and Indian War
  • 1776: Newport County experiences a significant decline in trade due to the American Revolutionary War
  • 1780: British forces occupy Newport during the Revolutionary War
  • 1793: Newport begins to transition into a fashionable summer resort town
  • 1834: Construction of the Newport Bridge, the first bridge connecting Newport to the mainland, is completed
  • 1855: The wealthy Vanderbilt family builds their summer home, The Breakers, in Newport
  • 1895: The first America's Cup yacht race is held in Newport
  • 1914: Construction of the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, replacing the original Newport Bridge, is completed
  • 1954: The Newport Jazz Festival is established, becoming one of the most significant jazz events in the world
  • 1969: The Newport Folk Festival becomes a renowned event in the American folk music revival
  • 2001: Newport celebrates its 350th anniversary
  • 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic impacts tourism and events in Newport County

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Newport County, Rhode Island.

Audiobooks about the history of Rhode Island.