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.
Newport, RI — After more than a decade run, NRF will be changing up their annual holiday program once known as “Undecked Halls”, to a new experience titled, “A Rough Point Holiday”. The refreshed program will be taking place on December 1, 8, 15, and 27 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Rough Point Museum, with both self-guided and guided experiences being offered for the price of $10 for adults, and free admission for children 12 and under.
Every season at Rough Point offers a certain kind of magic. Visitors will see Doris Duke’s Newport home during the darkest and merriest days of the year. Rooms of the museum will be spruced up for the Christmas holiday, while others will be cloaked in their winter coverings. Together, these spaces tell the story of Doris’ holiday traditions and the off-season routines of one of Newport’s summer cottages.
The program will continue to provide an untraditional take on a holiday mansion tour, and visitors can expect to see Rough Point from a different perspective. Doris Duke spent an extended “season” at Rough Point (from roughly April to November), but she often spent the Christmas holiday elsewhere. Visitors will go behind the scenes to see how Doris and the household staff celebrated the holidays, and learn about past winter caretaking rituals and current practices of conservation at Rough Point Museum.
The first floor will be open for roaming at your leisure with guided tours offered at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30. Tours are included with admission. Tickets for admission available at the door; no advance reservation necessary. Rough Point Museum is located at 680 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI. Please visit newportrestoration.org/events for more information.
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.
