Walking & Site Tours

Seasonal Guided Walking Tours & Historic Site Tours

For regularly scheduled tours click here. Additional and special tours may also be found on our calendar page.

Stroll through exquisitely preserved living neighborhoods and visit one of our landmark historic sites. Feel transported back to the heyday of this thriving colonial metropolis. Hear stories of revolution and ruin, struggles for religious liberty, and remarkable entrepreneurship among Newport’s diverse people.

The Newport Historical Society and the Newport Restoration Foundation are your sources for authentic Newport history. Join our expert guides as we open wide the doors of history and invite you to explore Newport’s central place in American history.

Private Tours for Groups

Available all year-round
Privately scheduled walking and property tours can be scheduled with our Director of Education. Call for more information or to schedule one of the following tours. 401-846-0813

Discover Colonial Newport Inside & Out Walking Tour
Discover the remarkable story of early Newport on this stroll through Newport’s Historic Hill, including a visit inside one colonial landmark.
Cost: $10 per person; Minimum fee applies
Duration: one and one half hours

Lantern Tour of Colonial Newport
Feel transported through time on a lantern-lit tour of the exquisitely preserved neighborhoods of Newport’s Historic Hill.
Cost: $10 per person; Minimum fee applies
Duration: one and one half hours

Rum & Revolution Tour
A toast to taverns and tippling, this 1.5-hour walking tour offers an entertaining and informative history of alcohol in Newport.
Cost: $10 per person; Minimum fee applies
Duration: one and one half hours

Specialists’ History Walking Tours
Tours on specialized subjects such as African-American heritage, colonial craftsmanship, religious diversity, women’s history, or holiday themes are available.
Cost: $12 per person; Minimum fee applies
Duration: one and one half hours

History Detective Tour for Families or Youth Groups
Students in grades 3-7, families or other teams can discover Newport’s colonial history, its religious and racial diversity, its role in the American Revolution, and its remarkable architecture on an interactive guided tour. Participants work in pairs to complete a worksheet, recording their observations in words and drawings.
Cost: $5 per person ($80 minimum)
Duration: one to one and one half hours

More Than Mansions Slide Show and Colony House Tour
What was Newport like before the Gilded Age and the Bellevue Avenue mansions? Hear the whole story of Newport’s lively history during an illustrated presentation. Then tour this 1739 colonial landmark, a government meeting place & the site of important celebrations.
Cost: $5 per person ($150 min.)
Duration: one half to one hour
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Details and Other Information

Tour Capacity: Although some tours have limited capacity, we can accommodate large groups by combining two or more programs in succession.

Flexible Tour Departures: Walking tour departure options include the Gateway Visitors’ Center, hotels in Newport’s Historic Hill, the Museum of Newport History, or the Newport Colony House.

Parking & Restrooms: Complimentary bus parking and public restrooms are available at the Gateway Visitors’ Center at 23 America’s Cup Avenue; for directions and more information, see www.gonewport.com.

Accessibility: Some sites have limited access for wheelchairs & strollers. Call for information.

Payment: Prices subject to change. A nonrefundable deposit (typically $75) is due at least 14 days before the tour date; balance is due upon arrival. Payment may be made by check, cash, money order, Visa, or MasterCard.

Escort Admissions: Admission is complimentary for one group leader & one driver with each tour group.

Late Arrivals: Tour guides will accommodate late arriving groups whenever possible, but tours may have to be shortened or cancelled in some instances.

Group Meals & Event Rentals: The Newport Colony House is also available for rentals and meals. Call 401-662-0652
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For more information or to book a tour contact:

Ingrid Peters, Director of Education
Newport Historical Society
(401) 846-0813 x 102
ipeters@newporthistorical.org

Newport Historical Society