Newport's Seafaring Tradition and Gilded Age Landmarks Continue to Fascinate Visitors

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but the City of Newport has a large reputation as an excellent place to go for people seeking to explore New England's maritime tradition, take in some beautiful scenery, and experience a taste of the gilded age. Located on Aquidneck Island in the middle of Narragansett Bay, this small city of about 25,000 people was settled in 1639 by colonists seeking greater religious freedom and it continued to play an oversized role in American history thereafter. Today, an estimated 3 million visitors pass through Newport each year.

Newport Traditions

The first boom in Newport's development took place in the 1700s when ships and merchants began to congregate along the shore of East Narragansett Bay. These traders imported and exported fish, candles, rum, fur, silver, and often slaves. At one time, there were an estimated 150 wharfs and hundreds of shops located on the cobblestone lanes of Bowen’s Wharf and other streets. These colonial era buildings and many tasteful replacements now serve as inns, shops, and restaurants throughout the downtown. 

The strategic location of Newport as a gateway to the northeast was not lost on the British. They captured the city during the American Revolution and controlled it for several years until eventually replaced by a friendly French fleet. After independence, the United States maintained a significant naval presence in the city. This military tradition continues today in the strategic training and planning activities underway at the Naval War College and the Naval Underwater Warfare Center.

A third Newport tradition is its role as a summertime resort and leisure capital for wealthy people from around the nation. Beginning in the late 1800s, New York society began to congregate in Newport for the "season”. By 1895, dozens of modern palaces that rivaled the homesteads of Europe’s nobility had been constructed in the area between Bellevue Avenue and the eastern shore. In subsequent decades, several hundred mansions were built  particularly on the 10-mile-long Ocean Drive that hugs the perimeter of the island. The hobbies and activities of these elite residents also contributed to the growing reputation of the community as the place to be for yachting, tennis, and society events.

Popular Attractions

Some of the most popular and interesting things to do in Newport today include the following:

Visit the Mansions - As the years passed, the reduced functionality and increased cost of maintaining the large mansions made it impractical to continue using them as private residences. Fortunately, few of them were turned into apartments, hotels or torn down. Instead, the Preservation Society of Newport County acquired some of the most interesting properties beginning in 1945 and set out to restore them and open them up for public viewing. As a result of contributions from private benefactors and admissions fees from visitors, 10 properties were opened to the public for mansion tours and they now attract more than a million visitors per year. Three of the most popular mansions are the Marble House which was constructed in 1892 by the Vanderbilt family with inspiration from the Palace of Versailles in France, the Breakers’ 70 room mansion inspired by 16th century palaces in Italy featuring a spectacular lawn and water views, and Rosecliff known for its " Great Gatsby" fountain. Individual mansion tickets or group ticket packages can be purchased.

Cliff Walk - Another popular activity in Newport is to hike along the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk. This National Recreation Trail  runs from Memorial Boulevard near Easton Beach along the bay to the southeastern tip of the island near Bailey’s Beach. In addition to ocean views, the walkway brings you alongside rocky promontories and crashing waves. The walkway was originally constructed in segments from 1880 to 1929 by some mansion owners and community minded citizens. Thanks to certain public access rights set forth in the Rhode Island Constitution, the designers located the path at the top of the cliff adjacent to the backyards of the Bellevue Avenue mansions. Today, those residences are generally separated from the walkway by fences and hedges, but hikers can still gaze at the Preservation Society’s mansions as well as the modernized waterfront estates of existing residents. The walk also passes through the grounds of beautiful Salve Regina University.

There is little shade and no refreshments available on the walk so at a minimum hikers should bring water and a hat. Fortunately, the stiff ocean breezes and mild climate of Newport keep the walkway about ten degrees cooler than inland locations but also make the Cliff Walk susceptible to fog. 

Completing the entire walk will usually take between two and three hours depending on how much you look around, rest, or take pictures. The first two miles of the walkway are a flat paved surface about ten feet wide with only a few steep grades or steps. However, the last mile and a half includes some sections which require hikers to cross over smoothed large boulders or walk on seaside rocks. These areas require balanced movements and occasional climbs. For this reason, some people prefer to exit the walkway either where the Cliff Walk intersects with Narragansett Avenue and there is a public restroom or by leaving the path at the intersection with Ruggles Avenue. The more difficult sections are after those two locations. Moderately fit adults can complete the entire walk experience successfully but unless you enjoy looking down and watching your step for the last half mile, it makes sense to exit at the Ledge Road intersection and then walk back to Bellevue Avenue trolley stop rather than continue around the final rocky point. 

International Tennis Hall of Fame - The International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum is a great place to visit for casual sports fans and for serious tennis players seeking an interactive experience. The outdoor grass courts, an indoor “court tennis” building, and the social club commonly referred to as the Newport Casino have been in use for almost 150 years. It served as the venue for numerous professional tournaments and national championships. Certified professionals provide private lessons and tennis clinics for juniors and adults on site, and both local club members and visitors can rent a grass court to play with their friends.

The museum section of the Hall is Fame is full of exhibits which depict the sports evolution from amateur competitions among the elite to international tournaments featuring incredibly fit male and female athletes. There are several thousand artifacts from tennis history on display including films of historic matches, profiles of Hall of Fame inductees, and equipment innovations.

Yachting - Newport's reputation as a maritime center coupled with the outdoor enthusiasm of the city's summer residents has encouraged thousands of people to birth their sailboats and powerboats in the bays and marinas of Newport or to visit it by water. It helps that the America’s Cup yacht competition was held in Newport for more than 50 years beginning in the 1930s. Today, America's Cup 12-meter yachts still race, train, and take tourists on voyages around local waters. In addition, cruise ships and tall ships with full masts from foreign nations frequently disembark their crews and passengers in port while attracting onlookers.

Shopping and Dining - The downtown harbor area has evolved in recent decades into a popular place for dining and shopping. The restaurant scene features numerous seafood establishments but also a surprisingly wide variety of ethnic and fine dining options. The colonial character and friendly confines of some places such as the Black Pearl, Clark Cooke House, and the White Horse Tavern make them popular with locals and tourists. Shopping choices are diverse too and include art galleries, designer clothes, and gifts with a maritime theme.  

Festivals - It can be difficult sometimes to find hotel rooms, parking, and restaurant reservations in Newport from May to October. One reason for that is the city’s reputation for holding interesting festivals and cultural events. The summertime Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival began attracting top name artists in the late 1950s and have been held there most years since then at the Fort Adams State Park. During the fall, the city has everything from boat races to classic car events, a comedy festival, and several food festivals.

Trolley System - One helpful feature of the sightseeing experience in Newport is that the Rhode Island Transportation Authority maintains an excellent trolley bus system based at the Newport Gateway Center. It has five stops located close to the prime sightseeing areas and runs out Bellevue Avenue to the end of the Cliff Walk at Ledge Road. While the trolley does not go to the entrance of the Cliff Walk, the stop at Memorial Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue is close.  The trolley can be boarded at any of the stops for $2 in cash or by purchasing a day pass for $4. 

Newport continues to grow and thrive as a destination that is easy to reach from airports in Providence and Boston. Everyone from family vacationers to convention attendees to those seeking a taste of the “lifestyle of the rich and famous” will find something interesting to do in this historic city.