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.
Tour Doris Duke’s art-filled mansion and enjoy panoramic ocean views from the extensive grounds, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Open late March to November.
Experience the only museum in the world specializing in 18th-century Newport furniture and related decorative arts. Open late May to October.
Explore 40 acres of open space, a tribute to the agrarian heritage of Aquidneck Island. The site is open daily from dawn to dusk for public enjoyment.
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.
Help us to continue a lived-in legacy by becoming a Restoration Partner today.
Join us in the pocket garden at the Whitehorne House Museum with furniture conservator Randy S. Wilkinson of Fallon & Wilkinson, LLC as he guides you through the very basics of wood identification. In this demonstration, he will highlight the typical woods used in Newport furniture as well as the unexpected. This program will also provide a rare opportunity to examine a Rhode Island desk made of rarely-seen red cedar wood.
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Whether you’re just starting out building your houseplant collection or you’ve been cultivating your home jungle for years, this workshop will delve into the dos and don’ts of plant parenting. Join Rough Point’s Estate Gardener for this hands-on houseplant workshop, and take home a piece of the Rough Point gardens! Bring your own gloves, or add-on a pair of gloves from our Museum Store at checkout to use and take home after the workshop.
Take home a one-of-a-kind reminder of Rough Point’s gardens. Led by estate gardener and floral designer Alyssa Leach, this workshop is for novices and experts alike and borrows inspiration from Doris Duke’s historic flower gardens. All materials included, and participants will each take home a tabletop mixed arrangement of their own design.
A second Floral Design Workshop will be held on August 22. Click here to view event page.
Learn the art of traditional stone wall construction and repair from the experts. Join master class instructors Chris and Dan Smith of Bi-Eye Stone Wall for their sixteenth year leading this hands-on workshop. Great for owners of historic properties in New England who have their own stone wall projects, or for anyone interested in the history and craft of stone walls.
Light snacks and refreshments will be provided for all participants. If you have work gloves, please bring them along.
Nantucket Island has long looked to the ocean to determine its future. From fishing village to international whaling port to beloved seaside escape, the waters that surround Nantucket have always inspired. A National Historic Landmark with more than 800 pre-Civil War era historic structures, Nantucket is one of the countless coastal communities that now must rethink its relationship with the sea.
Keeping History Above Water: Nantucket is a two-day workshop on Nantucket that will bring together members of the island community, stakeholders from other coastal communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and national experts to share experiences and case studies. This is the fifth iteration of Keeping History Above Water and is a partnership between the University of Florida, Nantucket Preservation Trust, and Town of Nantucket, in collaboration with the Newport Restoration Foundation.
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. Great for owners of historic properties in New England who have stone walls on their land, or for anyone interested in the history and craft of stone walls.
Workshop topic: Identifying Legendary Newport Cabinetmakers
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 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 – 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.
This program is the second in a two part series; the first workshop is scheduled for October 14.
Workshop topic: Newport’s Cabinetmaking Tradition
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.
This program is the first of a two-part series; the second workshop is scheduled for October 28.
