Newport

Images of America: Rhode Island

by Rob Lewis

Founded in 1639, the city of Newport offered a temperate climate and a wealth of natural resources to early settlers seeking religious freedom. In Colonial times, Newport flourished as one of New England’s largest seaports, a prosperity dimmed only by the Revolutionary War and subsequent three-year British occupation. Despite the fact that more than one-third of existing homes in Newport were destroyed by the British during their stay, Newport today still has the largest number of eighteenth-century homes of all cities in the United States. In 1968, the Newport Restoration Foundation was founded by tobacco heiress Doris Duke to preserve, protect, and restore the city’s eighteenth and nineteenth-century architecture. The foundation’s extensive photographic archives have been made available to area resident and modern-day photographer Rob Lewis in the creation of this new and exciting photographic history.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved being blocks away and/or walking around the streets of Newport and knowing a bit of history in both pictures and words.

It's fascinating to see their dress, way of life, and experiences both in the 17th and 18th century but to feel the burden of old structures that generally always burned and had to be rebuilt-walking the city you certainly get a feel for the importance of construction that captures the original homes but brings them into the 21st century.

[Roz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting pictures

There were many great pictures in this book. A nice collection. I would like to have seen comparison pictures of the same areas next to the originals. This would have made it a five star rating for me.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, especially if you're into Newport's boat-racing history. I'm not, but the book had some earlier historical stuff I found useful.