NRF promotes and invests in the architectural heritage of the Newport community, the traditional building trades, and Doris Duke’s fine and decorative arts collections, for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of all.
As a leader in the preservation of early American architecture, NRF supports research and education in areas directly related to its collections and issues of critical concern to the field of historic preservation.
Visit Doris Duke’s art-filled mansion and enjoy panoramic ocean views from the extensive grounds. Open late March to November.
The Vernon House is a site for expansive story-telling, contemporary dialogue, and preservation trades skill-building. Opening July 1, 2023: NRF and Art&Newport are excited to present a group artists exhibition on cards and card playing: Games, Gamblers & Cartomancers: The New Cardsharps
Newport Restoration Foundation holds one of the largest collections of period architecture owned by a single organization anywhere in the United States.
Celebrate excellence in historic preservation efforts within the City of Newport, Rhode Island.
Live amidst history by renting one of our many historic properties.
This October officially marks the 50th anniversary of the Newport Restoration Foundation, so we’re opening our doors to the community with special events, including FREE admission to Rough Point on October 24 to celebrate our Golden Birthday. This entire year we’ve been looking back at — and sometimes reviving — what Doris Duke and others were up to around the time of its founding. Please mark your calendars for special events across all of our museum locations including:
Newport Schools Night Rough Point September 19 / 5:00 – 7:00 pm / Free
Tucked all the way at the end of Bellevue, Rough Point is easy to miss. All Newport K-12 students and their families are invited to visit Doris Duke’s eccentric home for a night of fun and exploration. The museum and grounds will be open for strolling. Lawn picnics and #camelgrams encouraged. All ages welcomed. Ages 18 and under are free, and adults admitted free if accompanied by a K-12 student. Otherwise, general admission is $10.
A Closer Look at Designing for Doris, Curators Tour & Open House Rough Point September 20 / 4:30 – 7:00 pm / Free
David Webb archivists Dianne Batista and Levi Higgs will explore the intersecting interests of David Webb and Doris Duke in this special tour of Designing for Doris: David Webb Jewelry and Newport’s Architectural Gems. The tour will touch on the curatorial process and the commitment to beauty and design that drew two creative minds together. Tours will be held at 4:30, 5:30 & 6:30 (advance registration required). Light refreshments served at the open house to follow, which is free and open to the public. This is a Design Week RI event.
Ask a Gardener Rough Point September 29 & October 27 / 11:00 am, weather permitting Included with admission to the house or grounds
Every last Saturday of the month, estate gardeners share their expertise on a range of topics from plant identification to organic garden care. Get insider tips on how to make your own garden as lush as the gardens at Rough Point.
Gardening with the Masters: Colonial Foodways of New England Prescott Farm October 7 / 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Lecture begins at 11:00 am Free Event
Whether you’re growing lettuce or lupines, the URI Master Gardeners are here to help! At 11:00 am hear garden pros speak on selected topics. This month, learn about “Colonial Foodways of New England” with Jeff Richards. The 1812 Sherman Windmill is also open for touring.
Stone Wall Workshop Prescott Farm October 13 / 9:30 am – 12:30 pm $40, Advance registration required
Learn the art of traditional stone wall construction and repair from the experts. Join Master class instructors Chris and Dan Smith for their fifteenth year leading this hands-on workshop. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided for all participants. If you have work gloves, please bring them along. Please note: In the event of bad weather, the rain date is October 14.
NRF’s Golden Birthday October 24 / Free
In October 1968, the Newport Restoration Foundation was officially incorporated – 50 years later we invite Newport to celebrate the work that’s been accomplished and the exciting road ahead.
9:30 am – 7:00 pm
Rough Point, 680 Bellevue Avenue
Admission to Rough Point, Doris Duke’s Newport home and the site of the earliest NRF’s annual board meetings, is free all day.
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Vernon House, 46 Clarke Street
Vernon House, one of the newest additions to NRF’s collection of 18th century buildings, will be open to the public for an evening of community and celebration. Drop in to say hello, explore one of Newport’s most fascinating buildings, and toast to the next 50 years! Light refreshments will be served. Advance registration required here.
Workshopping the Collection: Newport’s Cabinetmaking Tradition Whitehorne House Museum October 14 / 1:00 – 3:00 pm $50; advance registration required
Get up close and personal with the early American furniture collection at the Whitehorne House Museum. Jeffrey Greene will be turning his craftsman’s eye to the construction details and design differences that set Newport furniture apart. Expect hands-on experience and careful examination during this seminar-style workshop. We’re turning tables upside-down, removing drawers, and getting on hands and knees to study the distinct form of Newport ball-and-claw feet.
Workshopping the Collection: Identifying Legendary Newport Cabinetmakers Whitehorne House Museum October 28 / 1:00 – 3:00 pm $50; advance registration required
Jeffrey Greene will be turning his craftsman’s eye to the minute details of a piece that help to identify the maker. Only a tiny percentage of high-end Newport furniture is signed or labeled, but craftsman’s markings and methods of work are as identifiable as handwriting and have yielded some surprising discoveries. Expect hands-on experience and careful examination during this seminar-style workshop.
Colonial Survival and Modern Revival: Newport in the 1960s Rough Point October 30 / 5:00 – 7 :00 pm / $15
Newport in the 1960s was a time-worn place, a city of many architectural layers. Some saw decay; others saw a sleeping beauty. Urban renewal celebrated modernity, and historic preservation revered the past. These two forces were engaged in an epic battle for the future of the city. Through period photographs and compelling news reports, journey back to the old colonial districts of the Historic Hill and Point and witness the explosive firmament of the 1960s when an important chapter in Newport’s history was being written. Doors will open at 5:00; the lecture begins at 5:30. We invite you to visit the special exhibition galleries before the program.
For more information on all events, visit www.NewportRestoration.org/events.
2023 DDPA recipients represent a wide variety of projects across Newport.
President Frankie Vagnone sat down with Newport This Week to discuss the Vernon House, and the future of NRF.
