Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island facts for kids

Newport, Rhode Island, has a long and exciting history! This timeline will take you on a journey through the centuries, showing how this important city grew from a small settlement into a vibrant place known for its beautiful mansions, sailing, and music festivals. Discover key moments, important buildings, and how Newport changed over time.

Newport's Early History: The 17th Century

• 1639 - William Coddington starts a settlement in Newport.
• 1643 - The first group of Quakers is formed.
• 1644 - Newport becomes part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
• 1647 - The Friends' Burial Ground is created.
• 1654 - Thames Street, a main road, is planned.
• 1656 - The Second Baptist Church is established.
• 1663 - Easton's windmill is built.
• 1675 - Clifton Burying Ground is established.
• 1677
  • The Jewish Cemetery is officially opened.
  • The Stone mill starts working.
• 1681 - A custom-house is set up to collect taxes on goods.
• 1690 - The Town House is built.
• 1695 - The First Congregational Church is established.
• 1697 - The Mumford house, a home, is built.
• 1699 - The Great Friends Meeting House is built.

Newport in the 18th Century: Growth and Revolution

• 1703 - A fort is built on Goat Island.
• 1705 - John Stevens' stonecarving shop opens.
• 1723 - July 19: Pirates are hanged at Gravelly Point.
• 1726 - Trinity Church is built.
• 1727 - James Franklin starts a printing press.
• 1730
  • A Literary and Philosophical Society is organized.
  • The Seventh Day Baptist Meeting House is built.
  • The White Horse Tavern opens for business.
• 1732 - The Rhode Island Gazette newspaper begins.
• 1733 - An organ is put into Trinity Church.
• 1735 - The Clarke Street Meeting House is built.
• 1740 - January: A big snow storm hits.
• 1741
  • The State House is built.
  • The Artillery Company of Newport gets its official charter.
• 1743 - Middletown becomes a separate town from Newport.
• 1746 - An almshouse, a place for the poor, is built.
• 1747 - The Redwood Library is established.
• 1749 - A lighthouse is built.
• 1750 - A fire company is organized to fight fires.
• 1752
  • A marine society for sailors is established.
  • Hunter’s Dispensary, a type of pharmacy, opens.
• 1755 - Aaron Lopez, a merchant, starts his business.
• 1758 - The Newport Mercury newspaper begins.
• 1760 - The Francis Malbone House and John Tillinghast House are built.
• 1761
  • A Jewish Club is organized.
  • The Douglass traveling theater group performs.
• 1762 - The Brick Market is built.
• 1763 - Touro Synagogue and a Granary (for grain) are built.
• 1764 - Shots are fired at the British ship HMS St John.
• 1765
  • June: People protest against impressment (forcing people into naval service).
  • August 27: A protest happens against the Stamp Act.
• 1774 - The population of Newport is 9,209 people.
• 1776
  • December 8: British soldiers take over Newport.
  • The population drops to 5,229.
• 1778 - December: Another snow storm.
• 1779 - October 25: The British leave Newport.
• 1780
  • July 12: French troops arrive to help.
  • Charles Feke's apothecary (pharmacy) opens.
  • The Clarke Cooke House is built.
• 1781
  • March 6: George Washington visits Rochambeau in Newport.
  • The French troops leave.
• 1784
  • Newport officially becomes a city.
  • George Hazard becomes the first mayor.
  • Goat Island is sold to the U.S. military.
• 1787 - The town government starts again.
• 1790
  • August 17: George Washington visits Newport again.
  • The population is 6,716.
• 1792 - The Newport Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers is formed.
• 1799
  • Fort Adams is built.
  • A yellow fever sickness spreads.

Newport in the 19th Century: A Time of Change

• 1803 - Newport National Bank is officially started.
• 1805 - The First Methodist Episcopal Church is established.
• 1810 - Spencer's variety store opens.
• 1811
  • Hammond's Circulating Library opens.
  • The Samuel Whitehorne House is built.
• 1814 - Sherman & Co. grocers open.
• 1815 - September 23: A strong gale (wind storm) hits.
• 1819
  • Newport Asylum is built on Coasters' Harbor Island.
  • Savings Bank of Newport is officially started.
• 1823 - The Newport Harbor Lighthouse is built.
• 1828 - Mechanics' Library is established.
• 1831 - The Newport Steam Factory is built.
• 1832 - Cozzens carpet shop opens.
• 1833 - June 19: President Andrew Jackson visits Newport.
• 1834 - Zion Episcopal Church is built.
• 1835
  • Davis' Family Bakery opens.
  • The Perry Cotton Mill is built.
• 1837 - Coddington cotton mill is built.
• 1838 - The Armory is built.
• 1839 - Kingscote (mansion) is built.
• 1845 - Ocean House hotel opens.
• 1846
  • The Newport Daily News newspaper begins.
  • First Baptist Church building and Van Zandt house are built.
• 1847
  • Central Baptist Church is established.
  • Hazard grocery and Langley & Bennett businesses open.
• 1851 - Beechwood, a large mansion, is built.
• 1852
  • Street lighting using gas lamps begins.
  • Chateau-sur-Mer, another mansion, is built.
• 1853
  • Newport becomes a city again.
  • Robert B. Cranston becomes mayor.
  • Church of the Holy Name of Mary is built.
• 1854
  • The Newport Historical Society and Newport Reading Room are founded.
  • The Sisters of Mercy convent is built.
  • A lighthouse is set up on Lime Rock.
• 1855 - Touro Park is created.
• 1857 - The United Congregational Church is built.
• 1859 - August 23: A reunion for people from Newport is held.
• 1860 - Chepstow (mansion) is built.
• 1861 - Kaull & Anthony grocers open.
• 1862 - Nason upholstery shop opens.
• 1863 - A school house is built on Willow Street.
• 1864
  • The Old Colony and Newport Railway starts running trains.
  • Shiloh Baptist Church is organized.
• 1865
  • Newport Light Infantry, a military group, is formed.
  • Scott grocery opens.
• 1866 - Atlantic House roller skating rink opens.
• 1867
  • People's Library is established.
  • Frasch confectionery (candy shop) opens.
• 1869
  • The U.S. Naval Torpedo Station is established on Goat Island.
  • August: President Ulysses S. Grant visits Newport.
• 1870
  • Rose Island Light is built.
  • Newport & Wickford Railroad and Steamboat Company is organized.
• 1871 - Newport Manufacturing Company mill is built.
• 1873
  • Newport Hospital opens.
  • Rogers High School is founded.
• 1874 - Ward's Circulating Library opens.
• 1875 - The population is 14,028.
• 1876 - The International Polo Cup match is held.
• 1878
  • Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is organized.
  • King & McLeod (dry goods) and Marshall & Flynn (printer) businesses open.
• 1880
  • Channing Memorial Church and Newport Casino are built.
  • May 30: The League of American Wheelmen is formed in Newport.
• 1881
  • A city water system is approved.
  • Newport Skating Rink opens.
  • A tennis tournament begins at Newport Casino.
  • Groff pharmacy opens.
• 1882
  • Couzens and Bull telephone exchange opens.
  • Free Chapel of St. John the Evangelist is established.
  • Vinland Estate is built.
• 1883 - Isaac Bell House is built.
• 1884
  • The Naval War College is established.
  • July 4: Another reunion of Newport's Sons and Daughters is held.
• 1885
  • St. Joseph's Church is established.
  • Morton Park is created.
  • The Stone Tower is repaired.
• 1888 - Carr bookseller and Hass florist businesses open.
• 1889 - Electric trolley cars start running.
• 1891 - Rockhurst, a residence, is built.
• 1892 - Marble House, Ochre Court, and Rough Point are built.
• 1893 - Newport Country Club is established.
• 1894 - Belcourt Castle, a residence, is built.
• 1895 - The National Open Golf Championship is held at Newport Country Club.
  • The Breakers, a famous mansion, is built.
• 1896 - St. George's School is established near Newport.
• 1898 - Vernon Court, a residence, is built.
• 1899 - September 7: An automobile parade takes place.

Newport in the 20th Century: Modern Times

• 1900 - Rhode Island's state capital moves to Providence.
• 1901
  • The Elms, a residence, is built.
  • TJ Brown business opens.
• 1902 - Newport Historical Society Museum building and Oelrichs House are built.
• 1905
  • Civic League is formed.
  • The population is 25,039.
• 1912 - The Art Association of Newport is organized.
• 1915 - Miramar (mansion) is built.
• 1919 - The Seamen's Church Institute is founded.
• 1923 - Rhode Island Route 114 is officially named.
• 1925 - Seaview Terrace, a residence, is built.
• 1926 - Hotel Viking opens.
• 1926 - A courthouse is built on Washington Square.
• 1930 - The America's Cup yacht race moves to Newport.
• 1934 - Salve Regina University is officially started.
• 1937 - The population is 27,612.
• 1938 - September: A major hurricane hits.
• 1942 - The Naval Academy Preparatory School moves to Newport.
• 1946 - The United Baptist Church is established.
• 1948 - WADK radio begins broadcasting.
• 1950 - The Naval Justice School moves to Newport.
• 1953 - September 12: The wedding of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier takes place.
• 1954
  • The Newport Jazz Festival begins.
  • The Tennis Hall of Fame is established.
• 1959
  • The Newport Folk Festival begins.
  • Rovensky Park is established.
• 1960 - The population is 47,049.
• 1964 - Newport State Airport (Rhode Island) starts operating.
• 1965 - Fort Adams State Park is established.
• 1969 - The Newport Bridge opens.
• 1976 - Brenton Point State Park is established.
• 1978 - The Naval War College Museum opens.
• 1980 - The Newport Rugby Football Club (Rhode Island) is formed.
• 1993 - The Yacht Restoration School is founded.
• 1998
  • The Newport International Film Festival begins.
  • The SVF Foundation is established for livestock preservation.

Newport in the 21st Century: Recent Events

• 2004 - The city's official website goes online.
• 2010 - The population is 24,672.
• 2012 - October: Hurricane Sandy causes a storm surge that washes away parts of the Cliff Walk.
• 2014 - June: The Cliff Walk reopens after being repaired from the 2012 storm damage.
• 2020 - March: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many places like restaurants, bars, and movie theaters close. Large gatherings are banned, stopping concerts and sports. Newport mansions also close.
• 2022 - March: A 20-foot section of the Cliff Walk collapses and is closed.

Images for kids

• 

  Newport, 1730

• 

  Newport, 19th century

• 

  Reunion, 1884

• 

  Thames Street, 19th century