Press Releases
Newport Restoration Foundation to Receive National Preservation Award
October 28, 2010 View more Press Releases(Newport, RI) The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) has been chosen to receive the Trustees Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. NRF was selected to receive this prestigious award for its efforts in helping to "save the city's colonial heritage, restoring 83 buildings and turning Newport into a world-class preservation showcase." The award will be presented to NRF's Executive Director Pieter N. Roos on Friday, October 29 at the 2010 National Preservation Awards, which are held at the National Preservation Conference in Austin, Texas. NRF will be one of 23 honorees at this year's awards celebration.
"Thanks to the vision of Doris Duke and the work of the Newport Restoration Foundation, the City by the Sea is today a world-class preservation showplace," said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "With the Newport Restoration Foundation's careful stewardship, Ms. Duke's legacy and the city's heritage are both in excellent hands." Each year, the National Trust celebrates the best of preservation by bestowing awards upon individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose contributions represent singular success in preserving, rehabilitating, or interpreting America's architectural and cultural heritage. Learn more at http://www.preservationnation.org/awards/
Newport is home to one of the largest collections of 18th century buildings anywhere in the United States. The seaside community, whose rich history draws large numbers of American and international tourists each year, was once in great danger of losing its renowned architecture. "The NRF's preservation effort restored irreplaceable historic houses, protected the 18th-century streetscapes in the heart of town, and balanced local preservation priorities between the large house museums along Bellevue Avenue and the more modest wooden architecture that defines Newport's old-city colonial character," stated Edward F. Sanderson, executive director of the RI Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission.
When Doris Duke, an heiress and preservationist, founded the NRF in 1968, the majority of the early homes had been neglected to the point of endangerment. The resulting restoration of 83 historic homes in Newport's downtown neighborhoods was on a scale not achieved before or since. Pieter N. Roos, who has led the NRF for the past 12 years, commented, "We are truly honored by this award. Doris Duke's efforts have had such a transformative effect on Newport and with this award that achievement is being recognized on a national level. I am delighted to accept the award on behalf of Doris Duke and all of the staff who has worked for NRF over the years."
Founded by Doris Duke in 1968, NRF was created to rescue Newport's dilapidated homes, many of which were at risk of being demolished. Today, NRF owns 82 historic structures with 70 lived in by individual tenant-stewards. NRF also operates three museum sites: Rough Point, the former home of Doris Duke; Whitehorne House, displaying a collection of early American furniture; and Prescott Farm, featuring historic buildings on a preserved rural landscape. A non-profit institution, the foundation continues to be actively engaged in historic preservation, educational programming, and scholarly research. Learn more about NRF at www.NewportRestoration.org
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