National Historic Landmark

King, Edward, House

Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
Listed
October 14, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000024

About this property

The Edward King House, is a monumentally scaled residence at 35 King street in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. It was designed for Edward King in the "Italian Villa" style by Richard Upjohn and was built between 1845 and 1847, making it one of the earliest representations of the style. It was the largest and grandest house in Newport when it was built. Edward King was the largest landowner in town by 1860, having made his fortune through the China Trade. The house is built in brick, has asymmetrical massing, arched window heads, and a prominent three story tower. It was Upjohn's first use of the "Italian Villa" style. These elements would later come to be considered typical features of Italianate design. The house was featured in Andrew Jackson Downing's The Architecture of Country Houses in 1850, including an engraving of the house and architectural plans. Downing described the house as "one of the most successful specimens of the Italian style in the United States." He went on to note the great variety of window sizes and types and noted the harmony of the design. The Edward King House was donated to the city of Newport in 1912 by Edward King's son and subsequently housed the Newport Public Library. It is now a senior citizens' center, The Newport Senior Center at the Edward King House. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on 15 October 1970 and designated as a National Historic Landmark on 30 December 1970. It has a notable Southern counterpart in Kenworthy Hall, designed by Upjohn a decade later. That house is also a National Historic Landmark.

Location

Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
41.48209, -71.31086

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Kingscote
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. Mary's Church Complex
Industrial
0.1 mi
Mawdsley, Capt. John, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Whitehorne, Samuel, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Emmanuel Church
Colonial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

British Occupation of Newport
1776Revolutionary War
0.6 mi
Battle of Rhode Island
1778Revolutionary War
4.8 mi
Battle of Rhode Island – Black Regiment Action
1778Revolutionary War
7.1 mi
Battle of Rhode Island (1778)
1778Revolutionary War
7.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was King, Edward, House listed on the National Register?

King, Edward, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1970.

What type of historic resource is King, Edward, House?

King, Edward, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is King, Edward, House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. King, Edward, House has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for King, Edward, House?

The period of significance for King, Edward, House is recorded as the industrial era.

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