The Preservation Society of Newport County is a private, non-profit organization based in Newport, Rhode Island. It is Rhode Island's largest and most-visited cultural organization. The organization protects the architectural heritage of Newport County, especially the Bellevue Avenue Historic District. Seven of its 14 historic properties and landscapes are National Historic Landmarks, and most are open to the public.
 Preservation Society Headquarters, Osgood-Pell House | |
| Founded | 1945 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Katherine Warren |
| Type | non-profit |
| Purpose | Preserve a collection of historic house museums in Newport County |
| Headquarters | Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island |
Region served | Newport County, Rhode Island |
CEO & Executive Director | Trudy Coxe |
| Website | newportmansions |
The organization has filed lawsuits to block offshore wind farms in Rhode Island, arguing that wind farms harm scenic views and threaten "historic resources".[1][2]
History
editThe Preservation Society of Newport County was founded in 1945 by a group of Newport residents led by Katherine and George Warren to save Hunter House from demolition. They were known as the Georgian Society until they changed their name to the Preservation Society of Newport County.
Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt, Harold Stirling Vanderbilt's widow, bequeathed $1.25 million to the society upon her death in 1978.[3]
Properties open to the public
edit| Image | Name | Year built (*circa) |
Style | Architect | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Arnold Burying Ground | Founded 1675 | Cemetery | ||
 |
The Breakers | 1895 | Neo Italian Renaissance | Richard Morris Hunt | [4] |
 |
Chateau-sur-Mer | 1852 (remodeled 1870s) | Seth C. Bradford (construction) Richard Morris Hunt (renovations) Ogden Codman, Jr. (design) |
[5] | |
 |
Chepstow | 1860 | Italianate | George Champlin Mason Sr. John Grovesnor (1978 addition) |
|
 |
The Elms | 1901 | Classical Revival | Horace Trumbauer | [6][7] |
 |
Green Animals Topiary Garden | c. 1860 | Victorian | Joseph Carreiro, George Mendonca (Gardeners) | [8] |
 |
Hunter House | 1748–1754 | Georgian | ||
 |
Isaac Bell House | 1883 | Shingle style | McKim, Mead and White | |
 |
Kingscote | 1839 (remodeled 1870s, remodeled 1880s) | Gothic Revival | Richard Upjohn George C. Mason (1870s renovation) McKim, Mead and White (1880s renovation) |
[9] |
 |
Marble House | 1892 | Beaux-Arts | Richard Morris Hunt | [10][11] |
 |
Rosecliff | 1902 | French Baroque Revival | McKim, Mead & White | [12] |
Former properties
edit| Image | Name | Year built (*circa) |
Style | Architect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Malbone Castle | 1849 (remodeled 1875) | Gothic Revival | Alexander Jackson Davis Dudley Newton (renovations} |
Bequeathed to the PSNC in 1978, later sold as a private residence; not open to the public[13][14] |
 |
White Horse Tavern | 1652–1673 | Francis Brinley, William Mayes | Restored by the PSNC in 1952, but now privately owned and operated as a working tavern |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ RINewsToday (2023-11-23). "Block Island and Newport preservationists fight to protect Rhode Island from massive wind farms". RINewsToday.com.
- ^ Belmore, Ryan (2023-11-22). "Preservation Society of Newport County files federal appeals to highlight legal errors in permitting review of offshore wind farms". What's Up Newp.
- ^ "Vanderbilt will". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. August 19, 1978. p. 13. Retrieved June 15, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Breakers, The". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on August 12, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2008.
- ^ "Chateau-sur-Mer". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2009-08-12. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ "Elms, The". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2009-08-12. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
- ^ "Green Animals Topiary Garden". www.newportmansions.org. Newport Mansions. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Kingscote". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2009-08-12. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
- ^ "Marble House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on August 12, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ ""Malbone" (J. Prescott Hall-Henry Bedlow House)" (PDF). loc.gov. Historic American Buildings Survey National Park Service Department of the Interior. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
External links
edit- The Preservation Society of Newport County Official Web Site.
- The Preservation Society of Newport County: an introduction from Magazine Antiques, April 1995.