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.
 * 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.
 * 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