Museum of Newport History facts for kids
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Brick Market
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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The building in 2016
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Newport, RI |
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| Built | 1762 |
| Architect | Harrison, Peter |
| Architectural style | Georgian architecture |
| Part of | Newport Historic District (ID68000001) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000019 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 24, 1968 |
The Museum of Newport History is a cool place to learn about the past in the Old Brick Market building. It's right in the middle of Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The Newport Historical Society runs this museum. The building itself is very old and special. It was designed by a famous architect named Peter Harrison in the 1760s. Today, it's known as a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a really important historical site. You can find it at 127 Thames Street on Washington Square.
Contents
What the Building Looks Like
The Brick Market is a three-story building made of red bricks. It has a low, sloped roof. The first floor used to be open with rounded archways, like big doorways. Now, most of these arches have glass in them. The upper floors have tall, flat columns called pilasters between the windows. These columns have fancy tops.
The second-floor windows are rectangular. They have decorative tops that are either pointed or rounded. The third-floor windows are square and have simpler frames. Inside, the building has changed a lot over the years. Not much of the original design remains inside.
A Look Back: The History of the Brick Market
The Brick Market was designed by Peter Harrison. He was a very important architect in the British colonies during the 1700s. Harrison based his design on a part of Somerset House in London, which was built in the 1600s. He changed the original stone design to brick. He also used a different style of column tops.
Building the Market House
The city approved the building's construction in 1761. Work began in 1762. However, the merchants who started the project ran out of money after only finishing the first floor. The city then took over the project. They put a roof on that first level. The entire building was not finished until 1772.
The first floor of the building was an open-air market. It was a traditional British-style market house, much like Faneuil Hall in Boston. People bought and sold all sorts of goods there. The money made from the building helped create a city fund. This fund was used to build a granary, which is a place to store grain.
How the Building Was Used Over Time
The upper floors of the Brick Market have been used for many different things. In the late 1700s, a printing business was located there. Later, it was turned into a theater. In 1842, it began to be used as the town hall. The third floor was removed at that time. Galleries were added around the sides and back.
The building served as Newport's city hall from 1853 to 1900. In the late 1920s, the building was carefully restored. This work was overseen by a restoration expert named Norman Isham. The Brick Market was recognized as a National Historic Place in 1968. It was also named a National Historic Landmark in 1968. It is also an important part of the Newport Historic District. This district is also a National Historic Landmark.
The Museum of Newport History Today
The Newport Historical Society now owns the building. It is home to the Museum of Newport History. This museum tells the story of Newport. It covers everything from before the first European settlers arrived to the Gilded Age and beyond.
You can see many interesting exhibits at the museum. These include a printing press that belonged to James Franklin. There is also a figurehead from the yacht Aloha. A figurehead is a carved figure on the front of a ship. You can also see a sword that was given as a gift by the Marquis de Lafayette to Daniel Lyman.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Rhode Island
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Newport County, Rhode Island
- Bellevue Avenue Historic District
- Ocean Drive Historic District
Images for kids
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View of the South Facade in 1971
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View of Exterior from Southeast, 1971
