Newport Neighborhoods

What is old can still be new, and this is true of Newport today as it was when the first settlers arrived in the harbor, a popular place of trade. Newport's rich cultural diversity comes from these early days of trade from the West Indies with settlers bringing unusual items like pineapples, which became a welcome symbol displayed then and now in the districts of many Newport inns, restaurants, homes and shops. Whether you are visiting Newport for a mansion tour, a music festival, a yachting event or relaxing vacation on the beach, you will want to explore this old city by the sea.

Downtown and Historic District

The downtown area of Newport is considered the historic district with its surrounding residential areas and The Gilded Age mansions of Bellevue Avenue in the Cliff Walk section. Newport is composed of rows of colonial homes, shops and eateries and the beaches skirting the city. Historic sites and architectural wonders draw many visitors to Newport. One of the lesser known yet interesting architectural designs is the Old Stone Mill in the middle of Touro Park on Historic Hill. The Old Stone Mill is said to be one of the oldest structures in the United States. Many people believe the Mill dates back to the Norsemen, 900 years ago. It could be the remains that are similar to Norse churches and towers found in Europe today. It is also rumored to be a colonial windmill or the ruins of a building built over a previous structure. The Old Stone Mill lends mystery to history and is the subject of debate and controversy in Newport and elsewhere today.