National Historic Landmark

Ocean Drive Historic District

Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
Listed
May 10, 1976
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
76000048

About this property

The Ocean Drive Historic District is a historic district that covers the long avenue of the same name along the southern shore of Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The majority of the land was owned by Edward King. It was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1976, in recognition for its distinctive landscape (largely the work of Frederick Law Olmsted) and architecture, which is less formal and generally not as ostentatious as the grand summer properties of Bellevue Avenue. Olmstead completed the design of Ocean Drive in 1867. It consists of houses on large lots that overlook the beaches and ocean. It was a favorite picnicking spot of the wealthy summer residents of the mansions on nearby Bellevue Avenue in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Location

Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
41.45863, -71.33993

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURECONSERVATIONARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
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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Everything a full report reveals about Ocean Drive Historic District

This page lists Ocean Drive Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Commandant's Residence, Quarters Number One, Fort Adams
Civil War
0.9 mi
Fort Adams
Early Republic
1.2 mi
Castle Hill Lighthouse
Industrial
1.2 mi
Ida Lewis Rock Lighthouse
Early Republic
1.5 mi
Rosecliff
Industrial
1.9 mi

Nearby Battles

British Occupation of Newport
1776Revolutionary War
2.6 mi
Battle of Rhode Island
1778Revolutionary War
6.9 mi
Battle of Rhode Island – Black Regiment Action
1778Revolutionary War
8.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ocean Drive Historic District listed on the National Register?

Ocean Drive Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Ocean Drive Historic District?

Ocean Drive Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Ocean Drive Historic District a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Ocean Drive Historic District 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 Ocean Drive Historic District?

The period of significance for Ocean Drive Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Ocean Drive Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Ocean Drive Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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Conflict records

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Rhode Island history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

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