Newport Historical Society Events

Thursday June 11 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Richard I. Burnham Resource Center, 82 Touro Street, Newport, Rhode Island, 02840

Tavern Talk - "How Liberty Is Sweet: Black Loyalists in Newport During the Revolutionary War" with Dr. Jane Lancaster

Thursday, June 11, 2026 Richard I. Burnham Resource Center | 82 Touro Street, Newport Admission $15 – $20 per person | *Student Discounts now available $10 with valid student ID 6:30pm to 7:30pm doors open at 5:30pm for a complimentary reception As historian Benjamin ......More

Richard I. Burnham Resource Center, 82 Touro Street, Newport, Rhode Island, 02840

Tuesday June 16 12:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Richard I. Burnham Resource Center, 82 Touro Street, Newport, Rhode Island, 02840

History Happy Hour

Every third Tuesday of the Month | 4pm – 7pmRichard I. Burnham Resource Center | 82 Touro Street, Newport, RIFree with any Donation Join us for an evening at the NHS’ current exhibition, “OCCUPIED! Newport and the Fight for Independence” History Happy Hour is Social Hou......More

Richard I. Burnham Resource Center, 82 Touro Street, Newport, Rhode Island, 02840

Wednesday June 17 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

"ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC" Book signing event with Charter Books

Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 Charter Books | 8 Broadway, Newport 6:00pm – 7:00pm | Free Book Signing Event We are excited to collaborate with Charter Book in support of the release of our latest book ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC presented by Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, Director of the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History at the Newport Historical Society. ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC is an accessible, softcover volume which takes up the unfinished conversation about what it is to be a descendant member of the Black community in Newport, RI, and beyond, today. This event is free and open to all! We kindly ask you to RSVP and share the event with your friends. RSVP Here: https://charterbookstore.com/form/rsvp “There is a world of something in the nkisi bundle, and that world was brought to Newport, Rhode Island, where Black descendant communities—since the beginning of Newport’s relationship with the transatlantic slave trade—were dispersed by the wind at sea, allowing the cycles of African and African identities to begin again and flower into the vibrant community of today and its continued work toward freedom-making.”—Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes The Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History is housed in the city of Newport’s oldest documented home at the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House (ca. 1697). The title, Echoes from the Attic, comes from the discovery of a nkisi, a spirit bundle found under the floorboards of the house during its restoration the bundle is the springboard for this new publication which features contributions from scholars, and from members of the descendant community in Newport. Moving beyond the Gilded Age and stories of Black wealth and enterprise, there are also stories of slavery, of resistance, of regeneration, and persistence. Edited by Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes. Contributions by Rebecca Bertrand, Kaela Bleho and Zoe Hume, Akeia de Barros Gomes, Kimberly Conway Dumpson and John M. Rice, and Anthony Bogues. With stories from members of the descendant community in Newport. Akeia de Barros Gomes, PhD is the Director of the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History and a Visiting Scholar and Adjunct Lecturer at the Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University.

Friday June 19 6:00am - 7:00am EDT

Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, 17 Broadway, Newport, 02840, United States

Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Friday, June 19th, 2026 Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House | 17 Broadway, Newport 10am to 11am | Free Public Event Join the Newport Historical Society for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History on Ju......More

Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, 17 Broadway, Newport, 02840, United States

Saturday June 20 6:00am - 10:00am EDT

Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History, 17 Broadway, Newport, RI, 02840

"Soul Value" Family Day at the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History

Saturday, June 20, 2026 Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History | 17 Broadway, Newport Admission $8 – $14 per person | Tickets include entry to the Center in addition to event programs 10am to 2pm | Performances at Soul ValuePerformances: 11am, 12pm, 1pm A duet, performed by April H. Brown and Jessica T. Pearson, brings to life the stories of New England Black women—Elleanor Eldridge, Elizabeth Freemen, and Margaret Kinnicutt—and the men of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment during and after the American Revolutionary War. Through a dynamic blend of monologue, dance, ritual, and song, Soul Value highlights the untold contributions of Black men and women in New England history, focusing on their advocacy, resilience, and survival. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250). Performing Artists: April H. Brown“For April, arts practice is the way we speak life into humanity.” April H. Brown is an educator, ordained minister, poet, singer, actor, and nationally recognized nonprofit leader whose work bridges the arts, education, and social justice. Based in Providence, Rhode Island, April brings over 25 years of experience in community development, cultural leadership, and educational equity. She also serves as Co-Director of the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading Committee, that amplifies Black literary voices through civic poetry gatherings. April holds a Bachelor of Arts from American University and a Master of Education from the University of Rhode Island. She has worked in a wide array of professional and cultural settings, including with the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and the National Museum of American History, where she helped produce landmark public events such as the National World War II Reunion and the Folklife Festival. Locally, she has collaborated with Rhode Island Black Storytellers, the National Association of Black Storytellers, and served as the African Marketplace Director. Recently, April served as a Commissioner on the City of Providence’s Special Committee forCommemorative Works, where she helped to shape inclusive public memory and civicrepresentation. Her leadership was instrumental across numerous initiatives involvingenvironmental justice, youth empowerment, arts education, and volunteer engagement. Jessica Pearson Jessica T. Pearson is a Professor of Dance at Rhode Island College. Ms. Pearson is a dancer, educator and choreographer who danced with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Gesel Mason and Concepts In Motion (Bermuda). As an educator of modern dance, ballet, and dance wellness, she has been invited to teach at Ballet West Summer Intensive, Brown University, Providence College, Urbanity Summer Intensive, University of Kentucky Lexington, Ballet Rhode Island, and overseas. Her choreography has been selected to perform at Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, Southern Vermont Dance Festival, and Collective Thread (NY). Urbanity Next, Utah Regional Ballet, Rhode Island College, Salve Regina University, University of Kentucky Lexington, University of Utah, and Providence College have commissioned choreography by Ms. Pearson. Ms. Pearson is currently training in Afro-Brazilian movement with Maestra Isaura Oliveira and Power of Skirts in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was a principal dancer in Hocus Pocus 2 and recently joined SAG-AFTRA. Prior to Rhode Island College, she was a Post MFA Fellow at the University of Utah. She received her MFA in Dance from the University of Colorado Boulder where she studied dance pedagogy and choreography and BFA in Dance from Towson University in Towson, Maryland. With a subspecialty in dance wellness, she has been trained in Progressive Ballet Technique and Sugarfoot Therapy.

Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History, 17 Broadway, Newport, RI, 02840

Saturday June 20 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Great Friends Meeting House, 21 Farewell St, Newport, RI, 02840, United States

The Opening Celebration of the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History

Saturday, June 20th, 2026 6pm to 8pm Great Friends Meeting House | 21 Farewell Street, Newport Cocktail Party & Conversation Event Join us for the opening celebration of the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History at the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, a landmark addition to Newport’s cultural landscape. We invite you to an evening of cocktails and conversation, highlighted by a keynote address from internationally renowned author and advocate Heather McGhee. Heather designs and promotes solutions to inequality in America. Over her career in public policy, Heather has crafted legislation, testified before Congress and helped shape presidential campaign platforms. Her book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together spent 10 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was longlisted for the National Book Award and Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. Set against the historic backdrop of the Great Friends Meeting House, this evening honors the stories that shape us and the visionaries who preserve them. VIP tickets at $500 + include a tour of the Center meeting at 17 Broadway at 5 PM. Honoring Mrs. Victoria Johnson & Mrs. Pauline Perkins-Moye Host Committee: Holly Bannister & Douglas Newhouse, Nancy Brickley, Akeia de Barros Gomes, Dorienne Farzan, Harriet Harris, Elizabeth Leatherman, Angela Lima, Veronica Mays, Sandi Peterson, Ellen Pinnock, Leila Ray Ticket levels and pricing are as follows: Friend Ticket $175 – General Admission for the Cocktail Party and Keynote.Advocate Ticket $500 – General Admission for the Cocktail Party and Keynote, One 5pm ticket for an exclusive tour of the Center for Black History, and a signed copy of Heather McGhee’s book Sum of Us, and VIP parking.Champion Ticket $1,000 – General Admission for the Cocktail Party and Keynote, Two 5pm tickets for an exclusive tour of the Center for Black History, a signed copy of Heather McGhee’s book Sum of Us, and VIP parking.Patron Ticket $2,500 – Reserved seating for the Cocktail Party and Keynote, Four 5pm tickets for an exclusive tour of the Center for Black History, a signed copy of Heather McGhee’s book Sum of Us, and VIP parking. Supporter Ticket $5,000 – Reserved seating for the Cocktail Party and Keynote, Six 5pm tickets for an exclusive tour of the Center for Black History, a signed copy of Heather McGhee’s book Sum of Us, and VIP parking.Tickets are required for entry to this event. Purchase tickets below: Book now!

Great Friends Meeting House, 21 Farewell St, Newport, RI, 02840, United States

Tuesday June 30 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

"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

The Colony House, Washington Sqaure, Newport

Saturday July 4 5:00am - 7:00am EDT

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

Independence Day Open House

Saturday, July 4th, 2026 Colony House | Washington Square 9am to 11am Free Family-Friendly Event 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. T......More

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

Saturday July 11 6:00am - 12:00pm EDT

Washington Square, Washington Square, Newport, RI, 02840

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 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 NewportTrinity Church12:00 p.m. Wreath-laying ceremony with the American Society of Le Souvenir FrançaisColony 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 interview 3:00–4:00pm 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 9am-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

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Tavern Talk - "How Liberty Is Sweet: Black Loyalists in Newport During the Revolutionary War" with Dr. Jane Lancaster

History Happy Hour

"ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC" Book signing event with Charter Books

Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

"Soul Value" Family Day at the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History

The Opening Celebration of the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History

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

Independence Day Open House

French in Newport 2026

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Pelham Jewish Center

Newport Historical Society

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