# Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island

Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island.

## 17th century

* 1639 - William Coddington settles.
* 1643 - First Society of Friends established (approximate date).
* 1644
** Newport becomes part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
** Name changed from Aquidneck
** United Baptist Church founded.
* 1647 - Friends' Burial Ground established.
* 1654 - Thames Street laid out.
* 1656 - Second Baptist Church established.
* 1663 - Easton's windmill built.
* 1673 - White Horse Tavern enlarged into a tavern.
* 1675 - Clifton Burying Ground established.
* 1677
** Jewish Cemetery dedicated.
** Stone mill in operation (approximate date).
* 1681 - Custom-house established.
* 1690 - Town House built.
* 1695 - First Congregational Church established.
* 1696 — The first recorded slave ship, the "Sea Flower," arrives in Newport carrying 47 captives, 14 of whom are sold in Newport.
* 1697 - Mumford house (residence) built (approximate date).
* 1699 - Great Friends Meeting House built.

## 18th century

* Early 1700s — Newport becomes a major hub of the triangular slave trade
* 1703 - Fort built on Goat Island (approximate date).
* 1705 - John Stevens stonecarving shop in business.
* 1723 - July 19: Pirates hanged on Gravelly point.
* 1726 - Trinity Church built.
* 1727 - James Franklin sets up printing press.
* 1730
** Literary and Philosophical Society organized.
** Seventh Day Baptist Meeting House built.
** White Horse Tavern in business.
** Population: 4,640.
* 1732 - Rhode Island Gazette newspaper begins publication.
* 1733 - Organ installed in Trinity Church.
* 1735 - Clarke Street Meeting House built.
* 1740 - January: Snow storm.
* 1741
** State House built.
** Artillery Company of Newport chartered.
* 1743 - Middletown separates from Newport.
* 1746 - Almshouse built.
* 1747 - Redwood Library established.
* 1749 - Lighthouse built.
* 1750 - Fire company organized.
* 1752
** Marine society established.
** Hunter's Dispensary in business.
* 1755 - Aaron Lopez (merchant) in business.
* 1758 - Newport Mercury newspaper begins publication.
* 1760 - Francis Malbone House and John Tillinghast House built.
* 1761
** Jewish Club organized.
** Douglass travelling theatre troupe performs.
* 1762 - Brick Market built.
* 1763 - Touro Synagogue and Granary built.
* 1764 - Shots fired at HMS St John.
* 1765
** June: Demonstration against impressment.
** August 27: Protest against Stamp Act.
* 1774 - Population: 9,209.
* 1776
** December 8: British occupation begins.
** Population: 5,229.
* 1778
** August 29: Battle of Rhode Island
** December: Snow storm.
* 1779 - October 25: British occupation ends.
* 1780
** July 12: French troops arrive.
** Charles Feke apothecary in business.
** Clarke Cooke House built.
** Free African Union Society founded
* 1781
** March 6: George Washington visits Rochambeau in Newport.
** French troops depart.
* 1784
** City incorporated.
** George Hazard becomes mayor.
** Goat Island sold to U.S. military.
* 1787 - Town government resumes.
* 1788 - Brissot de Warville finds "houses falling to ruin and grass growing in the public square" and Population: "less than 6000".
* 1790
** August 17: George Washington visits Newport.
** Population: 6,716.
* 1792 - Newport Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers incorporated.
* 1799
** Fort Adams built.
** Yellow fever epidemic.

## 19th century

* 1803 - Newport National Bank incorporated.
* 1805 - First Methodist Episcopal Church established.
* 1810 - Spencer's variety store in business.
* 1811
** Hammond's Circulating Library in business.
** Samuel Whitehorne House built.
* 1814 - Sherman & Co. grocers in business.
* 1815 - September 23: Gale.
* 1819
** Newport Asylum built on Coasters' Harbor Island.
** Savings Bank of Newport incorporated.
* 1823 - Newport Harbor Lighthouse built.
* 1828 - Mechanics' Library established.
* 1831 - Newport Steam Factory built.
* 1832 - Cozzens carpet shop in business.
* 1833 - June 19: Andrew Jackson visits Newport.
* 1834 - Zion Episcopal Church built.
* 1835
** Davis' Family Bakery in business.
** Perry Cotton Mill built.
* 1837 - Coddington cotton mill built.
* 1838 - Armory built.
* 1839 - Kingscote (mansion) built.
* 1845
** Ocean House hotel in business.
** Old Colony Railroad begins
* 1846
** The Newport Daily News begins publication.
** First Baptist Church building and Van Zandt house constructed.
* 1847
** Central Baptist Chursh established.
** Hazard grocery and Langley & Bennett in business.
* 1851 - Beechwood (mansion) built.
* 1852
** Street lighting by gas lamp begins (approximate date).
** Chateau-sur-Mer (residence) built.
** St. Mary's Church completed.
* 1853
** City incorporated again.
** Robert B. Cranston becomes mayor.
** Church of the Holy Name of Mary built.
* 1854
** Newport Historical Society and Newport Reading Room founded.
** Sisters of Mercy convent built.
** Lighthouse commissioned on Lime Rock.
* 1855 - Touro Park established.
* 1857 - United Congregational Church built.
* 1859 - August 23: Reunion of the Sons and Daughters of Newport.
* 1860 - Chepstow (mansion) built.
* 1861 - Kaull & Anthony grocers in business.
* 1862 - Nason upholstery in business.
* 1863 - School house built on Willow Street.
* 1864
** Old Colony and Newport Railway begins operating.
** Shiloh Baptist Church organized.
* 1865
* Newport Free Library and Reading Room established, first public library in Rhode Island.
* Young Men's Christian Organization formed with the goal to gather books for a library.
* Newport Light Infantry formed.
** Scott grocery in business.
* 1866 - Atlantic House roller skating rink opens.
* 1867
** Young Men's Christian Organization disbanded.
** Newport Free Library and Reading Room Incorporated.
** Frasch confectionery in business.
** Opera house established.
* 1869
* People's Library Incorporated
** U.S. Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island.
** August: Ulysses S. Grant visits Newport.
* 1870
** Rose Island Light built.
** The People's Free Library, later the Newport Public Library opens at its new location on Thames Street on May 4 completing the merger with the Newport Free Library and Reading Room.
** Newport & Wickford Railroad and Steamboat Company organized.
** Population - 12,521.
* 1871 - Newport Manufacturing Company mill built.
* 1873
** Newport Hospital opens.
** Rogers High School founded.
* 1874 - Ward's Circulating Library in business.
* 1875 - Population: 14,028.
* 1876 - International Polo Cup match held.
* 1878
** Young Men's Christian Association re-organized.
** King & McLeod (dry goods) and Marshall & Flynn (printer) in business.
* 1880
** Channing Memorial Church and Newport Casino built.
** May 30: The League of American Wheelmen is formed in Newport
** Population - 15,693.
* 1881
** City water system authorized.
** Newport Skating Rink opens.
** Tennis tournament begins at Newport Casino.
** Groff pharmacy in business.
* 1882
** Couzens and Bull telephone exchange in business.
** Free Chapel of St. John the Evangelist established.
** Vinland Estate built.
* 1883 - Isaac Bell House built.
* 1884
** Naval War College established.
** July 4: Reunion of the Sons and Daughters of Newport.
* 1885
** St. Joseph's Church established.
** Morton Park established (approximate date).
** Stone Tower restored.
* 1888 - Carr bookseller and Hass florist in business.
* 1889 - Electric trolley begins operating.
* 1890's - Bailey's Beach founded.
* 1891 - Rockhurst (residence) built.
* 1892 - Marble House, Ochre Court, and Rough Point built.
* 1893
** Newport Country Club established.
** Old Colony Railroad stops operations.
* 1894 - Belcourt Castle (residence) built.
* 1895 - National Open Golf Championship held at Newport Country Club.
** The Breakers (residence) built.
* 1896 - St. George's School established near Newport.
* 1898 - Vernon Court (residence) built.
* 1899 - September 7: Automobile parade.
* 1900 - Rhode Island state capital relocates to Providence.

## 20th century

* 1901
** The Elms (residence) built.
** TJ Brown in business.
* 1902 - Newport Historical Society Museum building and Oelrichs House constructed.
* 1905
** Civic League formed.
** Population: 25,039.
* 1908 - Cardines Field baseball stadium is opened.
* 1910 - Population: 27,149.
* 1912 - Art Association of Newport organized.
* 1915 - Miramar (mansion) built.
* 1919
** Seamen's Church Institute founded.
** U.S. Navy sex scandal.
* 1923 - Rhode Island Route 114 designated.
* 1925
** Seaview Terrace (residence) built.
** March 25: A fire destroys the third floor of City Hall; Newport's fire chief dies in the blaze
* 1926 - Hotel Viking (hotel) opens.
* 1926 - Courthouse built on Washington Square.
* 1930 - America's Cup yacht race relocates to Newport.
* 1934 - Salve Regina University chartered.
* 1937 - Population: 27,612.
* 1938 - September: Hurricane.
* 1942 - Naval Academy Preparatory School relocates to Newport.
* 1946 - United Baptist Church established.
* 1948 - WADK radio (1540 AM) begins broadcasting as WRJM. Call Letters changed to WADK in November 1953.
* 1950 - Naval Justice School relocates to Newport.
* 1953 - September 12: wedding of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier at St. Mary's Church.
* 1954
** Newport Jazz Festival begins.
** Tennis Hall of Fame established.
* 1958 - President Eisenhower establishes his summer White House at the Fort Adams Commandants House.
* 1959
** Newport Folk Festival begins.
** Rovensky Park established.
* 1960 - Population: 47,049.
* 1964 - Newport State Airport (Rhode Island) in operation.
* 1965
** Fort Adams State Park established.
** Folk singer Bob Dylan performs a controversial but influential electric folk-rock concert at the Newport Folk Festival.
* 1969
** Newport Bridge opens.
** Newport Folk Festival held for the final time before a 16-year hiatus.
* 1972 - Newport Jazz Festival moves to New York City
* 1976 - Brenton Point State Park established.
* 1978 - Naval War College Museum in operation.
* 1980 - Newport Rugby Football Club (Rhode Island) formed.
* 1981 - Newport Jazz Festival re-established at Fort Adams.
* 1983
** New York Yacht Club loses the America's cup to the Royal Perth Yacht Club
** Sail Newport established
* 1985 - Newport Folk Festival re-established at Fort Adams.
* 1993 - Yacht Restoration School founded.
* 1998
** Newport International Film Festival begins.
** SVF Foundation established (livestock preservation).
* 2000 - National Museum of American Illustration opens.

## 21st century

* 2004 - City website online (approximate date).
* 2010 - Population: 24,672.
* 2012 - October: Hurricane Sandy storm surge washes away large sections of the Cliff Walk
* 2014 - June: The Cliff Walk reopens after restoration following 2012's storm damage by Hurricane Sandy
* 2020 - March: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all dine-in restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and all gatherings of 25 or more are banned in Newport and across the state. This brings a halt to nearly all concerts, sports, and other events. Newport mansions are closed.
* 2022 - March: A 20-foot section of the Ciff Walk collapses near Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street and is closed