Museum of Newport History

Catch a glimpse of what colonial life was like in Rhode Island.

The Museum of Newport History is the perfect place to start your visit to Newport. Guests will learn about the area’s history and beautiful architecture. The museum is located in the old Brick Market on Washington Square. This building was designed by Peter Harrison in the 1760s and is in and of itself a historical landmark. Some of the featured exhibits are James Franklin’s printing press, the figurehead from the yacht Aloha, colonial silver, furniture and paintings, and various objects from everyday life in colonial times.

Museum of Newport History and the gift shop are open daily and provide an information center and departure point for guided walking tours. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5 per person. In an effort to continue to make Newport’s endlessly interesting history accessible to all, the Newport Historical Society and the Museum of Newport History have launched a virtual tour of our exhibit space as well. This is a neat place if you want to familiarize yourself with historic Newport.