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.
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.
NEWPORT, RI – The Newport Restoration Foundation has selected Mark Thompson to serve as the organization’s next Executive Director, following a competitive search. Thompson comes to Newport from St. Leonard, Maryland where he served as Executive Director of Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. He will assume this new role on February 5, 2018.
“Mark Thompson epitomizes the personal and professional qualities NRF believes we deserve in a leader, and he will bring our programs to new levels of local and national service,” said NRF Board Chair Roger Mandle.
“The entire board was impressed by Mark’s leadership experience as well as his successful track record of amplifying history,” Mandle continued. “He is the ideal person to continue and refresh our programs at Whitehorne and Rough Point, to care for our other properties and to advance the legacy of Doris Duke.”
In his role at the Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, Thompson led a museum of history and archaeology where he managed a 560 acre site with a staff of 30 people, 40 buildings, and more than eight million artifacts. Previously Thompson served as Maine Maritime Museum’s Regional Director for Southern Maine and Executive Director of the Portland (Maine) Harbor Museum. Thompson earned a Master’s degree in History as well as a Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Delaware. In addition to being an accomplished nonprofit leader, Thompson earned a JD from American University and practiced law before entering the museum field.
Mandle said Thompson will execute the Foundation’s new strategic plan and oversee a major new initiative at Whitehorne. The Foundation’s “Keeping History Above Water” program, a nationally recognized effort to protect historic properties/landmarks from the effects of climate change will also be among Thompson’s top priorities, Mandle added.
“The caliber of the staff at the Newport Restoration Foundation is among the finest of any nonprofit organization in the entire country,” said Thompson. “I am thrilled at the prospect of working alongside them. Newport is an incredible city and I’m looking forward to being a part of this vibrant community.”
About the Newport Restoration Foundation
The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) 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 addresses the impact of sea-level rise on the built environment in the wake of climate change, and the Historic Trades Initiative, which harnesses the knowledge of local specialists to train the next generation of preservation craftspeople. In addition to a collection of more than 70 colonial houses, now rented to tenant stewards, NRF operates properties that are open to the public —including Rough Point, the Newport home of Doris Duke, and The Vernon House, a site of expansive storytelling, contemporary dialogue, and preservation trades skill-building. NRF is on Facebook /NPTRestoration and Instagram @NPTRestoration. Visit newportrestoration.org for more information.
