by NRF Media | Jul 14, 2026 | NRF News
Newport, RI, July14, 2026– The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) and the City of Newport are thrilled to announce the recipients of the annual Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards for exemplary projects of historic preservation in Newport County and the annual President’s Award for lifetime achievement of excellence in historic preservation. Awardees are recognized at the Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards ceremony, a signature celebration taking place on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Rough Point in Newport.
“For 20 years, the Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards have celebrated exemplary historic preservation across our community that advance the extraordinary vision of our founder, Doris Duke,” stated Hilary Fagan, Executive Director of the Newport Restoration Foundation. “By recognizing exceptional stewardship, the Awards champion the historic places that help shape Newport’s identity and create the sense of place that makes our City so distinctive.”
Jill Chin, Preservation Planner for the City of Newport, stated, “The Doris Duke Preservation Awards celebrate dedicated homeowners and organizations that exemplify what it means to be a steward, inspiring others to follow suit. We are looking forward to further collaborations with NRF to support and advocate for historic preservation projects throughout the City that help make Newport such a special place to live, work, and visit.”
This year’s President’s Award honors Tom Perkins for his lifetime of excellence in historic preservation and for exemplifying Doris Duke’s vision of preserving and restoring the community’s architectural heritage and character.
This year’s awards recognize the following outstanding projects:
Miramar (1912), Newport, RI – The Excellence in Historic Preservation Award, for the Meticulous Restoration and Stewardship of the 1912 Horace Trumbauer-designed Miramar. The project championed historic preservation by exemplifying the highest standards of preservation practice. Guided by meticulous historical research, exceptional craftsmanship, and a commitment to retaining the estate’s original historic fabric, the project brought together master artisans from the United States and France to preserve one of Newport’s most significant Gilded Age landmarks in the Bellevue Avenue Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.
Project team: Stephen and Christine Schwarzman (owners); Lamia Bensouda (project director); Nigel McKenna (executive estate manager); Madison Worth Architecture (design architect); Achkar Charrière (interior decorator), Hina de Laubrière (interior decorator); Charlotte Vignon & Margot Bernstein (Curator/Art Historian); Madison Cox & Garden 26 (landscape designer); Kirby Perkins Construction (general contractor); Hull Cove (architect of record); Whitmores Landscaping (landscaping); QMW Masonry (masonry); Atelier Mériguet-Carrère (special finishes – painting, gilding); Blackburn Building Conservation, (interior stucco and plasterwork); Asselin (wood paneling and flooring restoration); Atelier de la Boiserie (interior millwork carpenters); Jouffre (custom upholstery/curtains).
The Spouting Rock Beach Association Historic Clubhouse (ca. 1939), Newport, RI – The Resiliency Award, for the Visionary Floodproofing and Preservation of the Spouting Rock Beach Association Historic Clubhouse. The project, a collaboration of the Spouting Rock Beach Association Board of Trustees and the Spouting Rock Beach Association Foundation, helped advance resiliency work in the City of Newport through the Association’s innovative leadership in protecting this national historic landmark from the growing impacts of sea level rise. The thoughtful integration of a state-of-the-art dry flood-proofing system safeguards the property’s historic fabric from sea level rise, hurricanes, and coastal flooding while preserving the building’s architectural integrity and its prominent setting within the Bellevue Avenue Historic District.
Project team: Leslie Grosvenor (SRBA Board of Governors, Secretary and SRBA Historic Building and Environmental Preservation Foundation, President); Daniel Paquette (project lead); Russ Ellington; Flood Proofing, Inc. (floodproofing design); Garrett Behan, Behan Brothers, Inc. (contractor).
Since 2006, The Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards has helped to sustain NRF’s work supporting our communities through preservation initiatives that address the impact of climate change on architectural and cultural heritage, make intangible cultural heritage accessible through more expansive storytelling, and invest in the historic preservation trades and preservation skills-building.
Sponsorship opportunities are now available for individuals and organizations to support and align themselves with historic preservation through this event, which is NRF’s largest annual fundraiser. Each level of support includes exclusive opportunities and perks like event tickets with VIP access, special recognition, and more. Visit newportrestoration.org/DDPA to learn more about sponsorships and how to join the celebration on Friday, September 11.
by NRF Media | Jul 8, 2026 | Keeping History Above Water, NRF News
Newport, RI, July 9,2026– The Newport Restoration Foundation is announcing the return to Newport of its nationally recognized convening Keeping History Above Water™ on the 10th anniversary of the inaugural conference. Keeping History Above Water: Looking Back, Moving Forward will gather historic preservationists, policy planners, and community leaders for a symposium exploring a decade of successes and lessons learned from 11 successful national and international Keeping History Above Water events and collaborations with host communities.
“This symposium is ten years in the making. We are excited to create a forum for practitioners and experts to inspire action for cultural heritage resiliency in the wake of climate change,” said Hilary Fagan, Executive Director of the Newport Restoration Foundation. “NRF’s historic homes are part of a global community threatened by the increasing impacts of rising sea levels and inundation events. We are pleased to take this opportunity to gather alongside colleagues and to share our community-centered work preserving and restoring the architectural and cultural heritage of Newport, while advancing the legacy of our visionary founder, Doris Duke.”
Held from October 21-23, 2026 the symposium includes opportunities for participants to hear from nation-wide experts in the field of climate change resilience and stewarding cultural heritage, along with hands-on demonstrations and site visits to learn from innovative resiliency projects throughout the city of Newport.
The symposium begins on Wednesday, October 21st with sessions highlighting the importance of the historic trades in supporting climate-change resiliency. The evening continues with a reception and keynote address.
Thursday and Friday sessions address planning efforts with creative, action-oriented projects focused on historic resources impacted by sea level rise, recurrent flooding, and climate change. Speakers will feature representatives from World Monuments Fund, Stone Living Lab, Strawbery Banke Museum, the Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Early bird registration is now open. Learn more at https://www.newportrestoration.org/programs-initiatives/khaw-symposium/
Sponsorship opportunities are available to partner with NRF on this work. Please contact Sue Battle, Development & Donor Relations Manager at sbattle@newportrestoration.org or by calling 401 849-7300 ext. 102.
by NRF Media | Jun 30, 2026 | NRF News
Newport, Rhode Island – June 30, 2026: The Newport Restoration Foundation is honored to announce that the organization’s portfolio of colonial homes has been named to Irreplaceable America, a new list from World Monuments Fund (WMF) recognizing 10 historic places across the United States whose preservation is essential to the richness and complexity of American history as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. From landmarks of public health and colonial architecture to sites central to Black history, Indigenous heritage, and artistic experimentation, the initiative spotlights places facing urgent preservation needs.
The Newport Restoration Foundation preserves one of the largest portfolios of colonial architecture in the United States. Between 1968 and 1976, Doris Duke’s NRF acquired, moved, and restored buildings on an unprecedented scale, creating an economic impact that helped revitalize the city. Five decades later, this portfolio continues to be an integral part of the economic, cultural, and architectural fabric of the community. These houses stand as living monuments that contain stories of generations of Newporters. Today, they help foster a more nuanced, comprehensive sense of an American identity and a shared history and now serve as sites of learning, memory, engagement, and inspiration.
Newport is facing a crisis due to the accelerating impacts of climate change. Nearly half of NRF’s historic properties are vulnerable to inundation caused by sea level rise and climate change. This threat is compounded by preservation and maintenance challenges resulting from a portfolio of 70 historic properties that were last comprehensively restored over 50 years ago, a waning pool of historic craftspeople, and changing standards of modern livability. Just as NRF and founder Doris Duke were the influence behind preservation then, the organization is well-positioned to be a similar force today. Increased capacity to carry out climate-change adaptations, workforce training, and collaborative storytelling through these historic properties will significantly help advance the livability, resiliency, and vitality of Newport.
“The Newport Restoration Foundation is honored that our portfolio of colonial historic houses has been recognized by World Monuments Fund as an integral contribution to the built environment and the American story. When our founder Doris Duke laid out a bold vision to ‘preserve and restore’ the architectural and cultural heritage of Newport more than five decades ago, she was instrumental in catalyzing the revitalization of Newport and shaping the way that people live in, work in, and enjoy the City today,” said Edith McBean, President of the Board of Trustees of the Newport Restoration Foundation.
“On this momentous occasion of America’s 250th anniversary, our work is to continue to invest in the livability of these irreplaceable sites, advance resiliency in the wake of climate change, and ensure that these homes with long, significant histories have a sustainable future,” said Hilary Fagan, Executive Director of the Newport Restoration Foundation. “We extend our congratulations to our fellow Irreplaceable America sites and the important work they are undertaking to protect and promote our heritage. We are grateful to World Monuments Fund for the recognition, and we look forward to our strategic partnership as we address the increasing challenge of stewarding these 70 historic sites that are vital to our nation’s historic fabric.”
“The United States was built by people from every corner of the globe, shaped by Indigenous nations, early settlers, immigrant communities, and generations of cultural exchange,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund. “That complexity gave rise to some of America’s most enduring contributions, from colonial heritage to jazz and hip-hop and the Wright brothers’ invention of powered flight. After decades of work at more than 700 sites in 112 countries, WMF has seen what communities gain when they can protect the places that matter and what is lost when they cannot. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Irreplaceable America is a call to protect the places that reflect the richness of that history, and the role heritage plays in education, community memory, and civic life.”
The Newport Restoration Foundation’s portfolio of colonial homes appears on the list alongside nine other places reflecting both the breadth of American history and the range of preservation challenges that many historic sites face. The full 2026 Irreplaceable America list is: New York Smallpox Hospital Ruin, New York; Bartram’s Garden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Black Mountain College Studies Building, North Carolina; African Meeting House, Boston, Massachusetts; City of New Orleans, Louisiana; Colonial Homes of Newport, Rhode Island; Dallas City Hall, Texas; Mission Churches of Acoma and Laguna Pueblos, New Mexico; Watts Towers, Los Angeles, California; and the Wright Brothers Sites in Dayton, Ohio. In addition, WMF and the external jury extended a special recognition to the National Park Service in support of the institution’s central role in shaping preservation standards and stewarding more than 430 sites across the United States.
The nationwide open call for nominations resulted in 75 submissions, which underwent a structured internal review and were then evaluated by an independent expert panel. Nominations were assessed based on cultural significance, urgency of conservation needs, and the potential community benefit of preservation. The panel included Charles A. Birnbaum, President and CEO of The Cultural Landscape Foundation; Charles L. Davis II, Associate Professor of Architectural History and Criticism and Program Director of the architecture PhD program at the University of Texas at Austin; Paul Goldberger, American author and architecture critic; Anthea M. Hartig, Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the National Museum of American History; Frank Sanchis, retired Regional Director for North America at World Monuments Fund; and Francisco Uviña‑Contreras, Professor of Architecture and Planning and Director of the historic preservation and regionalism graduate certificate program at the University of New Mexico.
For more information about Irreplaceable America, visit wmf.org. To learn more about The Newport Restoration Foundation, visit newportrestoration.org.
About the Newport Restoration Foundation
Founded in 1968 by philanthropist, collector, and preservationist Doris Duke (1912-1933), the nonprofit organization preserves, restores, and shares the architectural and cultural heritage of Newport. Today, NRF stewards more than 80 historic buildings and landscapes. 70 of these historic houses are lived in by tenants in a unique Tenant Stewardship program. Two of the historic sites are public-facing: Rough Point Museum and the Vernon House. Over the past decade, and following the legacy of founder Doris Duke’s life’s work, NRF has expanded its programmatic output and community engagement through core initiatives including Keeping History Above Water,™ which advocates for resiliency and the protection of cultural resources in the wake of climate change, the Historic Trades Initiative, which trains the next generation of preservation tradespeople in vital skills, and Telling Stories, which shares the stories of people connected to the places NRF cares for and helps ensure their preservation.
For more information, please visit www.NewportRestoration.org.NRF is on Facebook /NPTRestoration and Instagram @NPTRestoration
About World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund (WMF) is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places to enrich people’s lives and build mutual understanding across cultures and communities. The organization is headquartered in New York City with offices and affiliates in Cambodia, China, France, India, Italy, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Since 1965, our global team of experts has preserved the world’s diverse cultural heritage using the highest international standards at more than 700 sites in 112 countries. Partnering with local communities, funders, and governments, WMF draws on heritage to address some of today’s most pressing challenges: climate adaptation, inclusive heritage, balanced tourism, and post-crisis recovery. With a commitment to the people who bring places to life, WMF embraces the potential of the past to create a more resilient and inclusive society.
Media Contact
Keaton Ramjit
Senior Manager, Media Relations
World Monuments Fund
kramjit@wmf.org
Gina Tangorra
Director of Engagement
Newport Restoration Foundation
media@newportrestoration.org
by NRF Media | Apr 27, 2026 | NRF News
Newport, RI—The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is pleased to announce that Rough Point has achieved Level 1 Arboretum accreditation through ArbNet—which unites arboreta, botanic gardens with woody plant collections, and tree advocates around the world in a collaborative community dedicated to advancing the planting, study, and conservation of trees.
This marks an important step in NRF’s stewardship of Rough Point and will support the ongoing care and accessibility of the site.
The Rough Point Arboretum is approximately 11 acres situated on the rugged Atlantic Coast and preserves the legacies of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) and philanthropist, preservationist, and conservationist Doris Duke (1912-1993). Highlights of the arboretum include a variety of evergreen shrubs such as large specimen Yew (Taxus cuspidata) planted by Doris Duke and a large Turkish Oak (Quercus cerris) dating to ca.1850. This Turkish Oak is a Rhode Island Champion Tree registered with the Rhode Island Tree Council and has also been propagated by the Newport Tree Conservancy.
Doris Duke gifted Rough Point into the care of NRF to be opened to the public as a museum. Today, NRF provides programs, special tours, and educational workshops in support of the mission of stewardship of this historic and resilient landscape.
“The Rough Point Arboretum accreditation honors the legacies of Frederick Law Olmsted and our founder Doris Duke while advancing the Newport Restoration Foundation’s commitment to cultural landscape preservation and resiliency,” Hilary Fagan, Executive Director of the Newport Restoration Foundation said. “We look forward to increasing our impact through future collaborations with our community partners.”
Joe Verstandig, Living Collections Manager at the Newport Tree Conservancy, said “the Newport Tree Conservancy is very excited to work with the Newport Restoration Foundation and the staff at Rough Point to assist with curating their woody plant collection and to help plant new trees and shrubs in this historic landscape.”
Rough Point Museum and grounds and gardens are open seasonally and are free for Newport County residents. Learn more at newportrestoration.org.
About Newport Restoration Foundation
Founded in 1968 by philanthropist, collector, and preservationist Doris Duke (1912-1933), the nonprofit organization preserves, restores, and shares the architectural and cultural heritage of Newport. Today, NRF stewards more than 80 historic buildings and landscapes. 70 of these historic houses are lived in by tenants in a unique Tenant Stewardship program. Two of the historic sites are public-facing: Rough Point Museum and the Vernon House. In addition to the architectural and landscape portfolio, the organization maintains a collection of over 10,000 fine and decorative art objects—including a collection of 18th-century Newport furniture, over 2,000 objects of fashion, and more than 150 linear feet of institutional and architectural archives. Over the past decade, and following the legacy of founder Doris Duke’s life’s work, NRF has expanded its programmatic output and community engagement through core initiatives including Keeping History Above Water,™ which advocates for resiliency and the protection of cultural resources in the wake of climate change, the Historic Trades Initiative, which trains the next generation of preservation tradespeople in vital skills, and Telling Stories, which shares the stories of people connected to the places NRF cares for and helps ensure their preservation. For more information, please visit www.NewportRestoration.org.
NRF is on Facebook /NPTRestoration and Instagram @NPTRestoration
About ArbNet:
ArbNet supports a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Since its inception, ArbNet has accredited over 800 arboreta across 40 countries. In 2022, ArbNet was honored with the American Public Gardens Association Program Excellence Award. Into the next decade, ArbNet will engage its large and growing audience by continuing to support gardens in reaching their professional goals and milestones, sharing best practices and resources, improving urban forestry by supporting municipal tree collections, building capacity for smaller arboreta through grants and professional opportunities, establishing arboreta in biodiversity hotspots to facilitate conservation, supporting tree conservation efforts through partnership and networks, and finally, supporting scientific and horticultural research in arboretum collections of all sizes.
ArbNet’s founding organization, The Morton Arboretum, is an internationally recognized tree-focused botanical garden and research center. Its 1,700 acres of beautiful tree-filled landscapes are a place of enjoyment, a vibrant hub for nature education, and a world-renowned center for scientific research that studies trees and how to sustain them. As a nonprofit organization, The Morton Arboretum’s mission is to collect, study, display, and conserve trees and other plants from around the world to inspire learning, foster enjoyment, benefit communities, encourage action, and enhance the environment.
Learn more at https://arbnet.org
by NRF Media | Apr 13, 2026 | NRF News
Newport, RI—The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is announcing the open call for nominations for the 2026 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards – a joint program of the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) and the City of Newport – encourage excellence in historic preservation by recognizing exemplary projects that carry forward the legacy of Doris Duke and have had a significant impact on the preservation of the cultural and historic fabric of Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 1, 2026.
Newport Restoration Foundation and the City are calling upon the local community to nominate best practice preservation projects completed within the last three years that have added value to the character of the community. The winners will be acknowledged at an awards event on Friday, September 11, 2026. Please see below for award criteria and how to submit a nomination.
Award Criteria
Eligible recipients are private homeowners; non-profit or for-profit organizations; and federal, state, or local agencies.
- A wide variety of nominations of varying project budgets are encouraged, from small buildings to large; major rehabilitations to minor restorations; landscapes or site plans; new technologies and materials; individual or company-level excellence in practice; and education or advocacy initiatives. Particular attention will be paid to projects that include the following criteria:
- Emphasis on craftsmanship
- Incorporation of training the next generation of preservation tradespeople
- Attention to resiliency and energy efficiency
- Excellence in proactive maintenance (painting, roofing, siding repairs, etc.)
- Visible community impact and/or community engagement component
- Advancing community needs
- All work related to the project or initiative must have been completed within the last three (3) years.
- Nominations are welcome from Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, and Jamestown.
- Properties that are currently (or anticipated to be) listed for sale will not be considered.
Further information about the nomination process, including a listing of the information that must be provided in conjunction with a nomination, can be found at newportrestoration.org/DDPA or by emailing Margaret Back, NRF’s Preservation Projects Manager.
by NRF Media | Feb 25, 2026 | NRF News
Newport, RI, February 25, 2026 — The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hilary Fagan as its next Executive Director. Fagan, a Newport native with deep experience in Rhode Island economic development and financial services, will assume the role on March 9, 2026.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors selected Fagan following a national search, citing her energy, her diverse background in both the public and private sectors, and her lifelong connection to the city.
“We are thrilled to welcome Hilary to the Newport Restoration Foundation,” states Edith McBean, President of the Board of Directors. “We chose Hilary because she is a proven leader who knows how to get things done. She understands that fulfilling Doris Duke’s legacy requires consistent commitment to historic preservation, maintaining our properties, and keeping them beautiful, vital, and engaging for the community. Hilary’s background in promoting Rhode Island’s economy, combined with her financial expertise, makes her the ideal person to guide NRF as we face new challenges, including the impact of sea-level rise on our historic neighborhoods.”
Fagan joins NRF with a distinct blend of experience in government, business, and education. Most notably, she served as President & Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Business Development at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, where she led efforts to strengthen the state’s business climate and attract investment. She currently manages key strategic accounts for National Grid and previously held roles at CBRE and the Lincoln School. Early in her career, she worked in financial services at Nasdaq and Morgan Stanley.
“I am honored to join the Newport Restoration Foundation, an organization that has been part of the fabric of my hometown since 1968,” states Fagan. “NRF is a leader in preserving the unique sense of place that makes Newport special. I look forward to working with the board and staff to ensure that our historic homes remain vibrant community assets that evoke pride in Newporters. It is an exciting time to explore how historic preservation can drive economic vitality and community resilience.”
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About Newport Restoration Foundation
The Newport Restoration Foundation is a non-profit organization established by philanthropist Doris Duke in 1968 to preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of 18th and 19th century Newport. NRF promotes economic and community restoration through historic preservation initiatives like Keeping History Above Water, which advocates for resiliency and the protection of cultural resources in the wake of climate change, the Historic Trades Initiative, which trains the next generation of preservation tradespeople in vital skills, and Telling Stories, which shares the stories of people connected to the places NRF cares for and helps ensure their preservation. In addition to a portfolio of more than 70 historic houses rented in an unique Tenant Stewardship program, NRF operates properties that are open to the public including Rough Point, the Newport home of Doris Duke, and the 300+ year-old Vernon House, a site of expansive storytelling, contemporary dialogue, and preservation trades skill-building. For more information, please visit www.NewportRestoration.org.
NRF is on Facebook/NPTRestoration and Instagram @NPTRestoration
