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.
Newport, RI — The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced on July 29, $30 million in grants for 238 humanities projects across the United States in several categories. NRF’s Whitehorne House Museum received a Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Grant, the only such award in the state of Rhode Island. The $50,000 planning grant supports organizations like NRF as they assess their needs and direct efforts in “preventative conservation measures to prolong the useful life of collections [and] to help cultural institutions preserve large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations.”
The planning grant will be used to research and develop a plan that will serve as a road map to improve the climate control and collections storage systems at Whitehorne House Museum. Located at 416 Thames Street in Newport, it is the only museum in the world specializing in 18th-century Newport furniture and related decorative arts. The current challenges facing the museum building, a Federal era mansion near the Newport harbor, and its collections are numerous, including fluctuations in its temperature and relative humidity, degradation of the building envelope, and storage issues. With this grant, NRF can work with an integrated team of outside consultants to create a planning document that will offer clear and implementable suggestions about the best systems for addressing the museum’s current challenges.
“All of us at NRF are deeply appreciative of this award, which I think is a recognition of the historic significance of our 18th-Century furniture collections and the Whitehorne House itself,” said Dr. Erik Greenberg, NRF’s Director of Museums, who served as the primary author of the grant application.
A completed plan will serve as a blueprint for all subsequent operations at and fundraising for the Whitehorne House Museum. Once completed, the project team will undertake a comprehensive review of the plan and determine what projects, based on recommendations and priorities, NRF can undertake on its own, and what projects will need outside financial support. The project is planned to begin in 2021.
For more information about Whitehorne House Museum, visit www.newportrestoration.org/whitehornehouse
About the Newport Restoration Foundation
Founded in 1968, the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is dedicated to promoting and investing in the architectural heritage of the Newport community, the traditional building trades, and Doris Duke's fine and decorative arts collection, for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of all. NRF also supports research and education in areas that relate directly to its collections and to issue of critical concern to the field of historic preservation.
NRF is on Twitter @NPTRestoration, Facebook /NPTRestoration and Instagram @NPTRestoration. Visit newportrestoration.org for more information.
