Norman Bird Sanctuary is a

bird sanctuary An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and to be protected for the rest of their lives. Pattrice Jones, co-founder of VINE Sanctuary defines an animal sanctuary as "a safe-enough place or relationship within the cont ...

nature preserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

, environmental education center, and

museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make th ...

at 583 Third Beach Road in

Middletown, Rhode Island Middletown is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,075 at the 2020 census. It lies to the south of Portsmouth and to the north of Newport on Aquidneck Island, hence the name "Middletown". History Vario ...

overlooking the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

. In 1949, the Norman Bird Sanctuary was founded through a

bequest A bequest is property given by will. Historically, the term ''bequest'' was used for personal property given by will and ''deviser'' for real property. Today, the two words are used interchangeably. The word ''bequeath'' is a verb form for the act ...

in the will of Mabel Norman Cerio. The Sanctuary comprises the largest area of preserved open space in Newport County. There are 325 acres and 7 miles of hiking trails. The refuge contains hay fields,

woodland A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with trees, or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the '' plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade (see ...

s and ridges overlooking the ocean and ponds. Hanging Rock, a prominent local landmark, is located within the sanctuary overlooking the ocean. There is also a Visitor's Center and gift shop, and a 19th-century barn museum featuring displays about the wildlife for children and adults.http://www.normanbirdsanctuary.org/ (May 18, 2010)

History

The property of the Norman Bird Sanctuary has an agricultural history dating to the early 18th century, when a large tract of land was purchased by Isaac Smith, a descendant of one of the area's first settlers. The main farmhouse on the property is a typical Colonial-era farmhouse, five bays wide with a large central chimney, and dates to about 1755. The property, then , was auctioned to pay debts in 1782; the purchaser was Benjamin Gardiner. In 1898 George Norman, a Newport businessman, purchased the farm, then reduced to about , and it was his daughter Mabel who modernized the house and gave it a more Colonial Revival appearance. This core portion of the sanctuary was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 2008.

Gallery

File:Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, Rhode Island 3.jpg, File:Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, Rhode Island 2.jpg,

References

External links

Official Norman Bird Sanctuary Wildlife Refuge website

The Scenic Third Beach Project
��includes a map of the Norman Bird Sanctuary and surrounding area {{authority control 1950 establishments in Rhode Island Bird observatories in the United States Bird sanctuaries of the United States Buildings and structures completed in 1950 Education in Newport County, Rhode Island Environmental organizations established in 1950 Historic districts in Newport County, Rhode Island Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Rhode Island Middletown, Rhode Island Museums established in 1950 Museums in Newport County, Rhode Island National Register of Historic Places in Newport County, Rhode Island Natural history museums in Rhode Island Nature centers in Rhode Island Nature conservation organizations based in the United States Nature reserves in Rhode Island Non-profit organizations based in Rhode Island Ornithological organizations in the United States Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Rhode Island Protected areas established in 1950 Protected areas of Newport County, Rhode Island

History

Gallery

See also

References

External links