About Newport
A Brief History
Nicknamed the “City By The Sea,” Newport sits at the southern end of Aquidneck Island at the mouth of Narragansett Bay. This location has colored and influenced its history and certainly, its charm and allure.
Founded in 1639, Newport's first settlers came here seeking religious freedom. The area was soon recognized for its ideal trade location and quickly developed into one of the major seaports on the East coast, on par with New York, Charleston, S.C., and Philadelphia.
Ironically, this haven of religious tolerance became a key point in the infamous Triangle Trade. So called because of the triangular route taken to reach the three main shipping ports, the industry was an extension of the slave trade. African slaves were traded for West Indian sugar and molasses. These in turn were made into Newport rum and traded for slaves.
During this time pineapples first found their way into Newport homes. Now the city's symbol of hospitality, pineapples were originally brought here by Newport sea captains after trips to the West Indies. A pineapple was placed in front of the voyagers' home to indicate to neighbors and friends that his door was open to visitors.
Newport's era as a seaport diminished with the British occupation of 1776. British ships blockaded the harbor, and residents were forced to use the city's timber wharves for firewood during the brutally cold winter.
Newport was rediscovered in the late 19th century by the country's wealthy citizens as the ideal location to spend their summers. Suddenly, elaborate mansions and villas sprung up along Bellevue Avenue and Ocean Drive - each more ornate and luxurious than the one next door. These "summer cottages" provided the perfect backdrop for 'The 400,' an elite group of the very rich.
Newport re-invented itself as a resort destination in the 1970s, after the departure of the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet devastated the local economy.
Despite its tiny size (just 8 square miles) Newport harbors a wealth of architectural history, boasting more standing pre-1830 structures than any other city in the United States. Among the more notable ones are Trinity Church, Touro Synagogue (the oldest synagogue in the nation), the White Horse Tavern and the Hunter House.
Newport is also home to renowned cultural events, including the JVC Newport
Jazz Festival: the Newport Music
Festival, a-month-long series of classical concerts and recitals held in the
city’s famed mansions; the Dunkin' Donuts Newport Folk Festival; and,
of course, the Newport International Film Festival.