National Historic Landmark

Redwood Library

Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000015

About this property

The Redwood Library and Athenaeum is a subscription library, museum, rare book repository and research center founded in 1747, and located at 50 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. The building, designed by Peter Harrison and completed in March 1750, was the first purposely built library in the United States, and the oldest neo-Classical building in the country. It has been in continuous use since its opening. The building is part of the Kay Street–Catherine Street–Old Beach Road Historic District, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960.

Location

50 Bellevue Ave.
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
41.48636, -71.30835

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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Everything a full report reveals about Redwood Library

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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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
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Griswold, John, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Tillinghast, John, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Newport Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Listed
0.1 mi
United Congregational Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
Mawdsley, Capt. John, House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

British Occupation of Newport
1776Revolutionary War
0.3 mi
Battle of Rhode Island
1778Revolutionary War
4.5 mi
Battle of Rhode Island – Black Regiment Action
1778Revolutionary War
6.8 mi
Battle of Rhode Island (1778)
1778Revolutionary War
7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Redwood Library listed on the National Register?

Redwood Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Redwood Library?

Redwood Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Redwood Library a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Redwood Library 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 Redwood Library?

The period of significance for Redwood Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Redwood Library?

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 Redwood Library will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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