"The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliverance in the Age of Sail" with author Eric Jay Dolin

Tuesday, June 30th, 2026 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport Admission $15 – $20 per person | *Student Discounts now available $10 with valid student ID 6pm to 7pm doors open at 5pm for a complimentary reception From the best–selling author of Black Flags, Blu......More

Tuesday, June 30th, 2026 The Colony House | Washington Square, Newport Admission $15 – $20 per person | *Student Discounts now available $10 with valid student ID 6pm to 7pm doors open at 5pm for a complimentary reception From the best–selling author of Black Flags, Blue Waters comes the story of the American whaleship Mentor, wrecked in 1832 on a remote reef in the western Pacific. With supplies dwindling, the eleven surviving crewmen face not only the miseries of shipwreck in unfamiliar territory but also the profound uncertainty of contact with the Indigenous people of the Micronesian archipelago of Palau, who within days approach the deserted men brandishing axes, clubs, and spears.In this gripping saga of cultural collision, tribal wars, and dashed hopes, award–winning historian Eric Jay Dolin vividly reconstructs the Mentor’s doomed voyage, the years of perilous captivity, and the delicate negotiations and fraught naval rescue mission that followed. Illustrated by more than 100 images and maps, The Wreck of the Mentor is at once a powerful story of survival and a revealing window into the great Age of Sail a time when maritime ambition collided with local sovereignty, and when the outcome of one voyage rippled across oceans and empires. Book now!

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

Independence Day Open House

Saturday, July 4th, 2026 Independence Day ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Colony House Open House – 9:00am-11:00am ⭐ The Newport Historical Society is pleased to announce that on Saturday, July 4th the Colony House will once again be open to the public, continuing a years l......More

Saturday, July 4th, 2026 Independence Day ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Colony House Open House – 9:00am-11:00am ⭐ The Newport Historical Society is pleased to announce that on Saturday, July 4th the Colony House will once again be open to the public, continuing a years long tradition. Join us & the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for a celebration of our country’s independence, featuring: 9:00 AM: A Ceremony by the Aquidneck Island Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution at the grave site of Willam Ellery, Newport signer of the Declaration of Independence. Wreath laying and musket firing by the Artillery Company of Newport Common Burying Ground on Farewell Street. 9:00 AM: Opening of the Colony House for inspection from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. The Colony House will open the first and second floors to explore.   10:00 AM: A Patriotic Band Concert by the Newport Community Band, Eisenhower Park in Washington Square. Bring a chair and enjoy the music. 11:00 AM: Recreation of the first Rhode Island reading of the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Colony House by Roy Lauth, President of the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. 11:30 AM: Concert of traditional Colonial music by the Pawtuxet Rangers fife line in Eisenhower Park. 12:00 PM: Twenty-one gun salute to the Nation by the Artillery Company of Newport using cannons cast by Paul Revere. Bells will ring from the Colony House and churches throughout the City of Newport.  Cannons will fire from Fort Adams and other locations throughout the city. ⭐ Featured Event: Fourth of July Fireworks at Fort Adams ⭐ Celebrate America’s 250th at Fort Adams State Park with an unforgettable evening of live music, family fun, and the best view of Newport’s spectacular harbor fireworks.Event Details:Saturday, July 4Gates Open: 6:00 PMLive Music: 6:30 – 9:00 PMFireworks ~ 9:15 PM For more information about Independence Week events visit DiscoverNewport.org/250th

Colony House, Washington Square, Newport, RI, 02840, United States

Independence Week: Veterans Appreciation Day

Sunday, July 5th, 2026 Veterans Appreciation Day ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Navy Band Concert – 6:00 PM ⭐ Join the Newport Historical Society, Fort Adams Trust, and Newport VFW Post 406 in honoring veterans with a day filled with activities and special events. Particip......More

Sunday, July 5th, 2026 Veterans Appreciation Day ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Navy Band Concert – 6:00 PM ⭐ Join the Newport Historical Society, Fort Adams Trust, and Newport VFW Post 406 in honoring veterans with a day filled with activities and special events. Participating institutions across Newport will offer discounts and special programming for active-duty and retired military personnel.Activities will take place both at Fort Adams and at various partner locations throughout the city.Picnic at Fort AdamsSpend a summer day at Fort Adams with a relaxed, bring-your-own picnic. Pack your favorite food, grab a blanket or chairs, and enjoy waterfront views, open green space, and fresh ocean air. Whether you’re meeting friends or just looking for a peaceful spot to unwind, the Fort is the perfect place to picnic. Grounds open at 9:00 AM. The day concludes with a special performance by the Navy Band Northeast Trident Brass Quintet at Fort Adams State Park starting at 6:00 PM—a fitting tribute to close out the celebration.   Free or Discounted Admission for Active/Retired Military on 7/5 Newport Artillery Company Museum | 10am-2pm  Newport Historical Society | All Offerings Free with Discount Code VETERAN* *code will become active at 12:00 AM on July 5th* Fort Adams Trust | All Offerings Free with Discount Code JULY5Vet Newport Restoration Foundation | Free Admission to Rough Point & Vernon House Preservation Society of Newport County | Free Admission to The Elms, Marble House, and Rosecliff. Please note that this offer excludes The Breakers Tours and the Elms Servant Life specialty tour. Redwood Library | 1pm-5pm Newport Art Museum | 11am-4pm Thank you to the members of the Newport 250 Committee for making this possible.   For more information about Independence Week events visit DiscoverNewport.org/250th

Independence Week: Family Appreciation Day

Monday, July 6th, 2026 Family Appreciation Day   ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Colony House Kids Tour – 1:00 PM ⭐ Participating institutions across Newport will offer discounts and special programming including crafts and tours designed for kids & families.  Free or Disco......More

Monday, July 6th, 2026 Family Appreciation Day   ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Colony House Kids Tour – 1:00 PM ⭐ Participating institutions across Newport will offer discounts and special programming including crafts and tours designed for kids & families.  Free or Discounted Admission for Kids Under 12 on 7/6 Newport Historical Society | All Offerings Free for Kids with Discount Code FAMILY* *code will become active at 12:00 AM on July 6th* Fort Adams Trust | All Offerings Free with Discount Code JULY6KIDS Newport Restoration Foundation | Free Admission to Rough Point & Vernon House Preservation Society of Newport County | Free Admission to The Elms, Marble House, and Rosecliff. Please note that this offer excludes The Breakers Tours and the Elms Servant Life specialty tour. Redwood Library | 11am-4pm Newport Art Museum | 11am-4pm   Thank you to the members of the Newport 250 Committee for making this possible. For more information about Independence Week events visit DiscoverNewport.org/250th

Independence Week: Religious Freedom Day

Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 Religious Freedom Day   ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Houses of Worship Open to the Public 10:00 AM-4:00 PM⭐ Celebrate Newport’s rich tradition of religious diversity and explore historic houses of worship throughout the city. Participating Newport......More

Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 Religious Freedom Day   ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Houses of Worship Open to the Public 10:00 AM-4:00 PM⭐ Celebrate Newport’s rich tradition of religious diversity and explore historic houses of worship throughout the city. Participating Newport houses of worship will be open to the public for tours from 10am-4pm. See list & map below for addresses – all participating locations will have a lawn sign with the “Independence Week in Newport” logo set outside as well.   Open Houses 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Seventh Day Baptist Meeting House | 82 Touro Street Great Friends Meeting House | 21 Farewell Street  Trinity Church | 1 Queen Anne Square  St. Mary’s Church | 12 William Street Mt. Zion AME | 101 Van Zandt Avenue Loeb Visitors’ Center | 52 Spring Street St. John the Evangelist | 61 Poplar Street Emmanuel Church | 42 Dearborn Street St. Peter’s Lutheran | 525 Broadway St. Paul’s United Methodist | 12 Marlborough Street                             Thank you to the members of the Newport 250 Committee for making this possible.   For more information about Independence Week events visit DiscoverNewport.org/250th

Independence Week: Ink & Independence Day

Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 Ink & Independence Day ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Viewing of the Declaration of Independence ⭐ 10:00 AM-12:00 PM  Richard. I Burnham Resource Center   Join us in Newport County for a special viewing of the Declaration of Independence from the ......More

Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 Ink & Independence Day ALL DAY   ⭐ Featured Event: Viewing of the Declaration of Independence ⭐ 10:00 AM-12:00 PM  Richard. I Burnham Resource Center   Join us in Newport County for a special viewing of the Declaration of Independence from the Rhode Island State Archives, as part of a county-wide tour and Rhode Island’s ongoing commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This rare archival document offers an opportunity to engage directly with Rhode Island’s revolutionary history and the broader story of how the ideals of independence were communicated and preserved for the public. The Rhode Island State Archives continues to safeguard these foundational records, ensuring that future generations can access and learn from the documents that shaped our nation. This program will include the opportunity to view this rare document and speak with content experts about its significance in Rhode Island’s and the nation’s history.   ⭐ Featured Event: Printing Press Demonstration 1:00 PM ⭐ Richard. I Burnham Resource Center Advance RSVPs Recommended Before the Declaration could inspire a nation, it had to be printed. This talk examines the crucial work of Rhode Island printer Solomon Southwick, printer of the Newport Mercury.  Southwick,  who set the type and printed the first copies of the Broadside in Rhode Island that carried the message of independence to the people of Rhode Island. Learn how the Common Press operated, how type was set by hand, and how speed and accuracy mattered in a moment of revolution. This program brings to life the physical craft behind one of history’s most powerful documents. Guests will have the opportunity to operate a simple printing press and print their own copy of the Declaration of Independence!   Gary Gregory, The Printing Office of Edes & Gill Gary Gregory is a historical interpreter, printer, and founder of The Printing Office of Edes & Gill, where he brings the craft and culture of 18th-century printing to life for modern audiences. Specializing in the work of colonial Boston printers, Gary interprets the vital role print shops played in shaping public opinion and spreading revolutionary ideas in the years surrounding the American Revolution. Gary regularly presents to school groups, tourists, and history enthusiasts, offering engaging, hands-on experiences that connect audiences to the people, tools, and ideas that fueled the Revolutionary era. His programs emphasize the intersection of print, politics, and public discourse, illustrating how the printed word helped ignite a movement and define a nation.   For more information about Independence Week events visit DiscoverNewport.org/250th

Independence Week: Colonial Cemetery Tours

Thursday, July 9th, 2026 Colonial Cemeteries Day   ALL DAY   Explore local history  and experience these meaningful landscapes of remembrance through engaging stories & interpretative materials.   ⭐ Featured Event: Clifton Burying Ground Tour – 9:00 AM ⭐ Newport Histori......More

Thursday, July 9th, 2026 Colonial Cemeteries Day   ALL DAY   Explore local history  and experience these meaningful landscapes of remembrance through engaging stories & interpretative materials.   ⭐ Featured Event: Clifton Burying Ground Tour – 9:00 AM ⭐ Newport Historical Society – Bert Lippincott Free Public Event | Advance Registration Recommended | RSVP Immerse yourself in Newport’s history and explore the Clifton Burying Ground, one of Newport’s earliest and most storied burial sites. Discover the legacies of prominent colonial figures, including members of the Clarke and Wanton families, alongside generations of Quakers who shaped the city’s beginnings. As you wander this compact yet remarkable landscape, take in the richly carved gravestones and uncover the evolving history of a site that has been carefully preserved from centuries of change. This tour will meet outside the Newport Public Library & lasts approximately 45-60 mins.  ⭐ Featured Event: Arnold Burying Ground Tour – 10:00 AM ⭐ Preservation Society of Newport County – Lewis Keen Free Public Event | Advance Registration Required | RSVP Nestled in the heart of Newport is a family burial ground with a remarkable story. The final resting place for members of Governor Benedict Arnold’s family was obliterated and later restored thanks to the efforts of Alice Brayton of Green Animals. The tour will share the story of the site and some of the family members, and take a close look at remarkable Colonial gravestones. Many Americans know the name Benedict Arnold. The tour will explain his relationship to this site. We will meet in front of 75 Pelham Street. Parking is available in the neighborhood, and the tour will be about an hour long.   ⭐ Featured Event: Common Burying Ground Tour – 2:00 PM ⭐ Newport Historical Society – Bert Lippincott Free Public Event | Advance Registration Recommended | with code CEMETERY* *code will become active at 12:00am on July 9th* Step back in time as you explore one of Newport’s oldest cemeteries. Unearth fascinating stories of the people from all walks of life who shaped the city’s history and marvel at the artistry of the stone carvers who memorialized them. This tour will meet at the Colony House & lasts approximately 75-90 mins.  Self-Guided Cemetery Tours Visit https://rihistoriccemeteries.org/ for a more complete list of historic RI cemeteries by town    Fort Adams Cemetery | 90 Fort Adams Drive God’s Little Acre | Farewell Street Island Cemetery | Warner Street Old City (North) Cemetery | Braman Cemetery | Farewell Street Coddington/Governors’ Burying Ground | Farewell Street Colonial Jewish Burying Ground | Kay Street & Touro Street John Clarke Burying Ground | Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd & Callender Ave Trinity Churchyard | Spring Street Coggeshall Burying Ground | Coggeshall Ave & Victoria Ave Friends Burial Ground | Tilden Street & Feke Street Judge Anthony Wilbur Lot | Wilbur Ave Thank you to the members of the Newport 250 Committee for making this possible. For more information about Independence Week events visit DiscoverNewport.org/250th  

French in Newport 2026

Saturday, July 11th, 2026 10am to 4pm | Rain or Shine Washington Square | Newport, RI Free Family Fun Event | Donations Accepted   Experience Newport’s Revolutionary past brought to life! On July 11, 1780, General Rochambeau and 6,000 French soldiers and sailors arrive......More

Saturday, July 11th, 2026 10am to 4pm | Rain or Shine Washington Square | Newport, RI Free Family Fun Event | Donations Accepted   Experience Newport’s Revolutionary past brought to life! On July 11, 1780, General Rochambeau and 6,000 French soldiers and sailors arrived in Newport, marking a turning point in the American Revolution. On July 11, 2026, join the Newport Historical Society in Washington Square for a day of living history featuring performances, historical demonstrations, and hands-on activities celebrating America’s oldest allies. Visitors can explore Newport’s Revolutionary-era connections through engaging programs and family-friendly experiences across the square, with living history interpreters, historic trades, and interactive activities that bring this pivotal moment to life. Part of the NHS’s ongoing 250th-anniversary commemorations, French in Newport highlights the enduring alliance that helped secure American independence. Step into Revolutionary-era Newport for a day of living history, performances, demonstrations, and hands-on activities commemorating the arrival of General Rochambeau and the French forces in 1780. Programs will take place throughout Washington Square, with trolley service at King Park, Trinity Church, Colony House, and Eisenhower Park. Featured throughout the day: The French Military Band will perform at both the beginning and end of the day’s programs, and the Kentish Guards Fife & Drum Corps will perform every hour for 25 minutes beginning at 11:30 a.m. The National Park Service and the Daughters of the American Revolution, Battle of Rhode Island Chapter, will also be on site throughout the day. Schedule of Events (subject to change) King Park10:00 a.m. Wreath-laying ceremony with Alliance Française de Newport Trinity Church12:00 p.m. Wreath-laying ceremony with the American Society of Le Souvenir Français Colony House11:00–11:45 a.m. 18th-century medicine demonstration1:00–1:45 p.m. 18th-century medicine demonstration2:00 p.m. “French in 18th-Century Newport” walking tour departs2:00–3:00 p.m. Lafayette & Rochambeau interview3:00–4:00pm Final musical performances on the front steps of the Colony House Eisenhower Park11:00 a.m. All-day programs begin11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. 18th-century Military Textiles presentation1:30–2:15 p.m. 18th-century Military Textiles presentation Trolley ServiceTwo trolley services will operate throughout the day, with stops at key event locations. Map will be available, with stampers at every site visitors who show a completed stamped map to “Get the Scoop” on Broadway will receive a special $2.50 ice cream cone. Trolley Stops Admission to all historic properties listed will be FREE for visitors during French in Newport. Thank you to the members of the Newport 250 Committee for making this possible. • Washington Square• King Park• Trinity Church – https://www.trinitynewport.org/tours open 10am-4pm• Vernon House – Newport Restoration Foundation open 10am-4pm• Richard I. Burnham Resource Center – Newport Historical Society open 10am-4pm• Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House – Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History open 10am-5pm• Hunter House – Preservation Society of Newport County open 10am-4pm For Kids and Families• Children can try on reproduction 18th-century clothing and take photos, courtesy of the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati.• The first 150 children can make and decorate a mini boat with the National Park Service and become part of Admiral de Ternay’s fleet.• Historic toys and games will be available throughout the day. All-Day Highlights in Eisenhower Park• Annawon Weeden• Museum of the American Revolution – General George Washington’s Revolutionary War tent• Apple cider press• Silhouette artist• French engineer interpretation• Du Pont officer / 18th-century textiles• Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail & National Park Service representatives• Newport Historical Society iced tea and coffee tastings, with coffee provided by No Vacancy Coffee Co.• Newport Historical Society mini gift shop• Traveling Trunks try-on tent• Historic toys and games• Daughters of the American Revolution table Roaming InterpretersLook for General Rochambeau, the Marquis de Lafayette, local farmers and civilians, and a captured British soldier throughout the event.   Free programming is provided in collaboration with the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail.  

Washington Square, Washington Square, Newport, RI, 02840