By the mid-eighteenth century, Newport stood as one of British North America’s most vibrant port cities. Its harbor connected New England to the Caribbean, West Africa, and Europe, fueling a dynamic economy built on trade, shipping, and craftsmanship. Religious diversity flourished alongside commerce, making Newport a place of remarkable intellectual and cultural exchange.
The Revolution left Newport profoundly changed, dividing its citizens and undermining its once thriving economy. Yet the postwar years also brought new opportunities. Independence fostered political experimentation, gradual movements toward abolition, and a reimagining of civic identity.
Drawn largely from the Redwood’s Special Collections, along with the kind participation of the Newport Historical Society and significant Rhode Island collectors, the exhibition traces the arc of Newport’s role during the Nation’s formative years in celebration of America’s sesquicentennial.
