The Preservation Society of Newport County is a private,

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

based in

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, ...

. It is Rhode Island's largest and most-visited cultural organization. The organization protects the architectural heritage of Newport County, especially the

Bellevue Avenue Historic District The Bellevue Avenue Historic District is located along and around Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. Its property is almost exclusively residential, including many of the Gilded Age mansions built by affluent summer va ...

. Seven of its 14 historic properties and landscapes are

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

s, and most are open to the public.

History

The Preservation Society of Newport County was founded in 1945 by a group of Newport residents led by

Katherine Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and Catherina, other variations are feminine Given name, names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria ...

and George Warren to save

Hunter House Hunter House may refer to: ;in Canada *Hunter House, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada ;in the United Kingdom * Hunterhouse College, Finaghy, Belfast, Northern Ireland * Hunter House (initially St Brycedale), Kirkcaldy, Scotland * Hunter House Museum ...

from demolition. They were known as the Georgian Society until they changed their name to the Preservation Society of Newport County.

Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt (1901 - August 6, 1978) was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was one of the first women to compete in the America's Cup alongside her husband, Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, in 1934 and 1937. Early life Gert ...

Harold Stirling Vanderbilt Harold Stirling Vanderbilt CBE (July 6, 1884 – July 4, 1970) was an American railroad executive, a champion yachtsman, an innovator and champion player of contract bridge, and a member of the Vanderbilt family. Early life He was born in Oakdale ...

's widow, bequeathed $1.25 million to the society upon her death in 1978.

Properties open to the public

Former properties

, , Bequeathed to the PSNC in 1978, later sold as a private residence; not open to the public , - , The White Horse Tavern Newport Rhode Island est

, , White Horse Tavern , , 1652–1673 , , , , Francis Brinley, William Mayes , , Restored by the PSNC in 1952, but now privately owned and operated as a working tavern

References

External links

The Preservation Society of Newport County
Official Web Site.
The Preservation Society of Newport County: an introduction
from Magazine Antiques, April 1995. {{Authority control Historical societies in Rhode Island Landmarks in Rhode Island Newport County, Rhode Island Non-profit organizations based in Rhode Island Organizations established in 1945 Preservation (library and archival science) Historic preservation organizations in the United States

History

Properties open to the public

Former properties

See also

References

External links