Walking Tour Descriptions

Choosing Sides in Revolutionary Newport

Step into divided Newport on the eve of revolution, where neighbors wrestled with loyalty to Britain or the promise of independence. This two-guide walking tour brings both perspectives to life, asking you to decide whose cause you would follow in a city torn between rebellion and loyalty. This tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Colonial Newport Lantern Tour

Enjoy a lantern-lit walk through Newport’s historic streets. Learn about Newport’s early history including stories of rebellion, revolution and religious liberty. This tour lasts approximately 75 minutes.

Creative Survival: Newport’s Black History

Discover the history of Newport’s people of color, enslaved and free. Explore the places where enslaved people lived and labored, along with locations where free African Americans built their enterprises and supported a new local industry. This tour lasts approximately 90 mins.

Common Burying Ground

Step back in time as you explore one of Newport’s oldest cemeteries. Unearth fascinating stories of the diverse people who shaped the city’s history and marvel at the artistry of the stone carvers who memorialized them. This tour lasts approximately 75-90 mins.

Discover Colonial Newport

Take a walk through the heart of 18^th century Newport. Explore well-preserved colonial architecture, and learn about the diverse community that shaped this historic seaport town. This tour lasts approximately 75-90 mins.

French in Newport

Step into 18th century Newport and uncover the captivating story of the French alliance during the American Revolution. For a year, 12,000 French soldiers and sailors lived among Newport’s citizens, forging bonds and making critical contributions that were pivotal to America’s fight for independence. Discover how this historic collaboration began right here in Newport and played a vital role in securing American freedom. This tour lasts approximately 90 mins.

George Washington’s Footsteps

Follow in the footsteps of George Washington on this immersive tour through Newport’s Old Quarter. Visit the historic sites where Washington stayed, dined, and strategized during his visits to Newport. This tour lasts approximately 75-90 mins.

Golden to Gilded

From Newport’s colonial Golden Age to Gilded Age summer colony, discover the transformation of the city and its people. This tour lasts approximately 75-90 mins.

Holiday Lantern Tour

Explore Newport’s past on the Holiday Lantern Tour. Stroll through the historic streets by lantern light as you uncover the fascinating stories of early American holiday traditions. Discover how Newporters celebrated—or sometimes didn’t—during this evening walk. This tour lasts about 75 minutes.

Legends and Lore

Did the British Army steal the town records when they withdrew from Newport during the American Revolution; is there a tunnel on Touro Street; did an artist on Mill Street discover the tomato? This tour teases out the truth from the fiction in these stories and other infamous Newport tales. This tour lasts approximately 60-75 mins.

Newport’s British Occupation

In 1777 as the Revolutionary War officially began, 7,000 British and Hessian soldiers invaded Newport creating an occupation that lasted for nearly 3 years. Explore the sites and stories of the soldiers and citizens affected during this time. This tour lasts approximately 75-90 mins.

Point Neighborhood

Home to craftsmen, merchants, religious dissenters and more, discover the Point neighborhood’s rich colonial history. This tour lasts approximately 90 mins.

Raise the Alarm: Newport’s Fire History

Explore the dramatic history of fires and firefighting in Newport, from the city’s earliest volunteer fire clubs to the establishment of the Newport Fire Department. This engaging tour complements the Newport Historical Society’s exhibit “Raise the Alarm: Newport Fire Department through the Decades” and includes stories of historic blazes, firefighting heroes, and the evolution of fire prevention efforts. Highlights include a visit to significant sites such as Station 5, celebrating 130 years of service. This tour lasts 90 mins.

Road to Independence

Explore the tumultuous era of riots, rebellions, and shifting alliances that shaped the city’s role in the American Revolution. This tour lasts approximately 75 mins.

Rogues & Scoundrels

Uncover the secrets of notorious pirates, daring privateers, and cunning criminals as you walk through the very streets where they lived and plotted. Discover why early colonial Rhode Island earned the nickname “Rogue’s Island” and learn about the colorful characters and bold escapades that shaped its past. This tour lasts approximately 75 mins.

Rum & Revolution with Rum Tasting

From the thriving colonial rum trade through the temperance movement and Prohibition era smuggling, learn about the changing role of alcohol in the Newport community. This tour lasts approximately 75 minutes and it concludes at Stoneacre Brasserie to enjoy a historically inspired rum drink or mocktail along with a small bite. Tour participants must be 21+.

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