Newport Restoration Foundation

Newport Restoration Foundation The Newport Restoration Foundation promotes and invests in the architectural and cultural heritage of Newport.

06/03/2026

🔨We're back in the NRF Mill with Mill Supervisor Pete! Pete shares more about the history of the tools he uses every day—some of which date back to the founding of NRF and have been used for restoration, preservation, and maintenance projects since 1968.

Pete is part of our Preservation Crew—a team of carpenters, millworkers, painters, and systems experts who ensure the ongoing, cyclical preservation of the 80+ historic sites in our care.
You can learn more about our Preservation Crew and our Historic Trades Initiative training the next generation of historic tradespeople at newportrestoration.org (link in bio).

Today, we’re taking a closer look at mantels from across the historic properties in our care.While they reflect differen...
06/01/2026

Today, we’re taking a closer look at mantels from across the historic properties in our care.
While they reflect different eras and styles, they all feature creative craftsmanship, an attention to detail, and meticulous restorations.

You can explore more about the 80+ historic properties that we steward—including architectural details, behind-the-scenes of their restorations, and the stories of the people who once lived and worked in these homes— at newportrestoration.org.

🌟We’re excited to announce that Revolutionary Vernon House is opening on June 26th!This exhibit will tell the stories of...
05/30/2026

🌟We’re excited to announce that Revolutionary Vernon House is opening on June 26th!
This exhibit will tell the stories of the people connected to Vernon House who played a significant role in the American Revolution—including Cato Vernon (ca.1759-unrecorded), a ship carpenter and revolutionary war hero who joined the 1st Rhode Island Regiment in 1778 and Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau (1725-1807), the leader of the French allied forces—as well as the people who helped preserve Vernon House so that this significant building and its stories can be shared today.
Admission is free for all.

🦅Revolutionary Vernon House: Commemorating America's 250th Anniversary
Vernon House/ 46 Clarke Street
Fridays-Sundays
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Plan your visit at newportrestoration.org/tickets
This project is supported in part by BankNewport and a grant from the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250).

🏠Over six decades ago, Doris Duke laid out a bold vision to “preserve and restore” Newport’s architectural and cultural ...
05/28/2026

🏠Over six decades ago, Doris Duke laid out a bold vision to “preserve and restore” Newport’s architectural and cultural heritage by establishing the Newport Restoration Foundation.
Through more than 140 building, landscape, and public park projects, NRF has shaped how people live in, work, in, and enjoy the City of Newport.
Today, NRF advances Doris Duke’s legacy by stewarding these historic sites with significant pasts while planning for a more sustainable, resilient future.
As Preservation Month comes to a close, we invite you to join this legacy by becoming a Restoration Team Partner. Be a part of a community of others who make a monthly sustaining gift to support NRF with the resources needed to protect Newport’s historic places, strengthen climate resilience efforts, and train the next generation of historic tradespeople—while unlocking special member-only benefits for you.
Learn more about how you can make an impact at https://www.newportrestoration.org/restoration-team-partner/
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📸Doris Duke and NRF Director Francis Comstock inspecting 34 Pelham Street/The Langley-King House, 1970. Photo courtesy of Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Historical Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, NC.
📸Doris Duke and NRF Director Francis Comstock discussing plans at Prescott Farm, 1970.

🪡Have you had a chance to visit Fashioning Resiliency: Doris Duke’s Legacy of Conservation? Featuring Jill Palese, conte...
05/27/2026

🪡Have you had a chance to visit Fashioning Resiliency: Doris Duke’s Legacy of Conservation? Featuring Jill Palese, contemporary fashion designer, this exhibition looks at the materials, textiles, and designers in Doris Duke’s wardrobe alongside contemporary interpretations of more eco-friendly fashion.
And don’t miss the opportunity to join us and our friends at Charter Books for a special event with author Dr. Elizabeth Block on Saturday, June 13! Dr. Block will share the details and stories that bring garments to life, revealing the personal narratives and politics that shape American clothing.
The evening will begin with an unveiling of a new rotation of fashion objects from Doris Duke’s wardrobe on view in Fashioning Resiliency, followed by an illustrative talk. Dr. Block will be on hand after the talk to sign and personalize copies of her book.
Learn more and register at https://newportrestoration.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/list/book-event-gilded-age-fashion

*Doors open at 5:00 PM at Rough Point Museum for viewing of Fashioning Resiliency and the talk begins at 5:30 PM.

🔨An important part of NRF’s workforce development training program is creating opportunities for construction profession...
05/26/2026

🔨An important part of NRF’s workforce development training program is creating opportunities for construction professionals to connect with the traditional historic trades.
We recently partnered with the National Association of Women in Construction of Rhode Island ( NAWIC RI )for a hands-on workshop led by master craftsmen that allowed participants to try their hand at plaster molds, iron forging, Dutchmen repairs, and masonry repointing—all in one place, at one time.

A big thank you to Sheldon Austin of Austin Ornamental Plaster, James Delsanto of Grande Masonry, Alaina Mahoney of A.M Design & Fabrication, and Scott McDowell of Rockwood Joinery & NRF Lead Instructor of NRF’s PTS Training Program for volunteering their time and expertise. A special thank you to our partners in preservation, Heritage Restoration , for participating and for hosting us.
We look forward to doing this again in 2027!

To learn more about NRF’s Historic Trades Initiative and other training opportunities in the historic trades, visit https://www.newportrestoration.org/programs-initiatives/restoration-at-work/historic-trades-initiative/

As we head into Memorial Day Weekend, we wanted to share some updates and reminders about planning your visit to Rough P...
05/22/2026

As we head into Memorial Day Weekend, we wanted to share some updates and reminders about planning your visit to Rough Point Museum.
Rough Point for all:
*We are a Blue Star Museum! Now through Labor Day, Military personnel and their families can visit Rough Point Museum free of charge.
*We are a proud participant in the Museums for All initiative . This national access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Association of Children’s Museums encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly.
*And, Newport County residents are always free to visit.

To get to Rough Point:
*Hop on the trolley to visit Rough Point. Beginning today, May 22rd, the Route 67 Bellevue Trolley will be *free* through October 31st.
*Get there by bike. NRF is a proud partner of Bike Newport, RI and is a participant in the Get There By Bike initiative.

Plan your visit at newportrestoration.org/tickets

🏠"When I moved to Newport a decade ago, I quickly learned about the Newport Restoration Foundation’s role in restoring a...
05/21/2026

🏠"When I moved to Newport a decade ago, I quickly learned about the Newport Restoration Foundation’s role in restoring and preserving many of those homes, and how that inspired others to do the same, resulting in the wonderful Newport neighborhoods we see today.
It’s been my pleasure to support NRF with a simple monthly contribution, it’s easy for me and helps provide a predictable revenue stream for them. We all need to do our part to honor and preserve the craftsmanship and dedication of those early Newporters and what better time than during Preservation Month."

—Ken, a Restoration Team Partner since 2021

This Preservation Month, become a Restoration Team Partner and unlock special member-only benefits, including:

• Welcome packet including a self-guided walking map of NRF houses
• Free admission to Rough Point and Vernon House
• 10% discount in the NRF Store
• Subscription to NRF’s monthly newsletter
• Advance notice and discounts on NRF programs and events
• Invitations to special members-only events
• Special recognition in the NRF Annual Report
• Year-end tax statement outlining your cumulative giving
• Knowledge that your monthly contribution is being immediately directed toward NRF’s ongoing preservation work in Newport



With a full slate of special tours, events, and programs happening throughout 2026 (including NRF’s commemoration of America250), now is the perfect time to become a Restoration Team Partner. You also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are providing essential resources for NRF to continue preserving and sharing Newport’s architectural and cultural heritage.

For more information about the Restoration Team Partner Program and how you can make an impact, visit https://www.newportrestoration.org/restoration-team-partner/

🌼If you are strolling around Newport, you may have noticed that the wisteria is in full-bloom at Vernon House—which mean...
05/20/2026

🌼If you are strolling around Newport, you may have noticed that the wisteria is in full-bloom at Vernon House—which means open season is just around the corner.

Revolutionary Vernon House opens on June 26th.
Tickets will be on sale soon! In the meantime, you can explore Vernon House virtually a thttps://www.newportrestoration.org/vernon-house/

05/20/2026

🔨Step inside NRF’s Preservation Mill with Mill Supervisor Pete Raposa.
Pete walks us through the process of finding the perfect molding knife for a restoration project. There are 487 profile molding knives that we use to perfectly replicate millwork throughout our portfolio of 80+ historic properties.

Pete is not only a vital part of our Preservation Crew made up of skilled carpenters, millworkers, painters, and systems specialists, he also is an instructor in our Historic Trades Initiative programs and mentors job-shadowers and interns—helping train the next generation of historic tradespeople and ensuring these skills are preserved.

You can learn more about our preservation work in action and our Historic Trades Initiative at newportrestoration.org (link in bio)

Address

680 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI
02840

Telephone

+14018497300

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