This site is cosponsored by Newport's:
Anchor B&B ... Quiet, Comfortable B&B Near Harbor
Friends of the Waterfront
     ... Preserving Our Waterfront for the Public 		Interesting Newport Walks/Drives:
Cliff Walk
Ten Mile Drive [Ocean Drive]
Newport Harbor Walk North
Newport Harbor Walk South

HARBOR WALK North

The Point
 ... a Scenic, Historical Newport Waterfront Neighborhood Walk
        Harbor Walk North provides a two-sided view of the colonial harbor area of Newport. Here's where the tall ships arrived from England and where Newport merchants re-shipped their cargos through out the colonies. Most of the current main harbor at that time was too shallow for tall ships, and eventually was dredged deeper over a hundred years later.

        This historic "Point" section was home to boat builders, craftsmen, sea captains, merchants, and fishermen. They lived and worked closely with the sea and were in daily contact with the large bustling wharves lining this part of the Newport waterfront over 200 years ago.

        The driftways, originally access to the wooden docks for tall ships all along this part of the waterfront, were subsequently used to allow hurricane tides to flood the streets without damaging the homes. But these ends of streets ensured the public's right to access to the shoreline. With the help of Friends of the Waterfront in the early 1980s, all Point driftways are designated Public Access Rights of Way by the RI Coastal Resources Management Council. These bronze markers are at the head of each Way embedded in the street. [Click on marker to see list.]



        Start Harborwalk North at the Perrotti Park Marine Terminal on America's Cup Ave. Walk along Long Wharf, which in Colonial days was indeed a wooden wharf with water on both sides. The Marriott Hotel is actually built on filled land over the colonial age coastal marsh. Perrotti Park is the harbor landing site for launches from cruise ships and the Newport/Providence ferry, and serves as the Newport Harbor Master's office.

        This North end of the Main Harbor is rich in history. Gravelly Point, at the end of Long Wharf was the site where pirates, those unfriendly to Newport, were hanged; and where President George Washington landed on one of his visits and had the waterfront street he landed on named after him (Washington St.). Until 1937, most of Long Wharf was the docking site of the New York/Fall River Line Steamers, the main mode of tourist transportation for nearly 100 years.
        The Newport Yacht Club grounds are open to the public and you can walk out along the bulkhead in front of the club, then back to Long Wharf to walk out to the harbor line again on Washinton St. Pier.

        At the end of Long Wharf is the State Fishing Pier. Newport fishermen were moved here as the downtown waterfront became more tourist oriented. Feel free to wander out into the area which is open to the public, but remember it is a commercial area and as we land a lot of lobster ... there is a slight smell of lobster bait [dead fish].

        The Newport Shipyard is next door and has one of the largest marine railways on the East Coast. From the fishing pier you can often see large boats out of the water being worked on. In the Shipyard is a small coffee/sandwich shop which is open to the public, but the best view of the mega yachts is from the public observation dock which runs right along the south side of the Goat Island Causeway.

        The boat docks themselves are not open to the public and you need to stay clear of any active working sites. Famous yachts are often at the shipyard: here Alinghi, recent America's Cup winner, is being prepared to sail. [Photo Newport Shipyard ©
        Storer Park was willed by the Storer Family for a park for mothers and children, and is one of the loveliest waterfront parks. Where its seawall meets the causeway is a favorite spot for local fishermen.

        The park is the start of the now residential Point Section, as well as the turning point to Goat Island over the Goat Island Causeway.
Colonial homes facing on Storer Park.
Hunter Front        Continue north along the shore to Hunter House, restored by the Preservation Society, as an example of the finest eighteenth century colonial architecture and furnishings. Its formal garden overlooks the water and Elm St. Pier. There is a path along the sea wall. Hunter House illustrates the diversity that occured over the centuries: Tories, French Navy, diplomats, physicians, and a boarding house to Catholic nuns.

        Just north of Hunter House is the Elm St. driftway, boat ramp, and pier. While not an "approved" swiming area, the pier and its earlier versions, have hosted kids facinated by jumping off the dock's end for centuries.

        Walk out to the end of the pier to look north to the Pell [Newport] Bridge and west to the over 100-year-old Green Light at the north end of Goat Island. For the more active walker you can walk out over the causeway, through the Hyatt and out to view up close up this Coast Guard maintained light.

        Green Light on Goat Island was the key light for ships entering the Harbor from the north. Currently in the water off Green Light and running just north of the Newport Bridge is the possible last resting place of Captain Cook's ship the Endeavor. Goat Island during WW2 was the site of the main U.S. Navy torpedo manufacturing center.
        The Sarah Kendall House across from Hunter House is an eloquent empire Victorian frame home, built in 1871 for Sarah Kendall, wife of a wealthy shipping merchant. Here's what the views from the cupola look like.
        As you walk north from Storer Park each block offers fine examples of eighteeth and nineteenth century architecture.

        While not all on this waterfront walk the Newport Restoration Foundation has 27 historic homes close by. On the corner of Poplar and Washington are former Quaker homes. The Captain John Warren House (1736), a Georgian colonial is at 62 Washington St.

        Across the driftway is the Quaker Tom Robinson House (1725), headquarters of Vicomte de Noailles during the Revolution, and later a tavern, and spermaceti works for the whaling industry. ... In 1875, McKim Mead & White converted the old Georgian colonial to a Victorian summer house. [64 Washington St.]
        The Dennis House (1740) is the rectory of St. John's Church, a gothic style Anglican church.

        Across the street, a fortune made during the Civil War built the Sanford-Covell House, its interior and exterior a fine example of a Victorian summer house.
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Sanford Covell House
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Tripp-Southwick House 1758/1880
        The John Tripp House (1720) was moved down from Providence [left] on a barge, and is noted for its rare stone end chimney with an ornamental beehive oven.
Dyre Carr House ...1740         From Granddad Carr's will: "Third, I give my son Robert Carr, and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, my dwelling house and wharf from the corner post that leads into the well yard upon a straight line to the sea, (only the privilege of the highway between the house and the well yeard to be common up to John Brown’s house, and the wharf to be free for my sons and daughters for any goods they shall bring on or off of said wharf) and to have all the land upon the straight line from that post adjoining to the house and pasture, except what is given to my son in law, James Brown, and the privilege of the well and a way to it, and pay to his mother 7 pounds in money yearly during her natural life."
        Stella Maris Inn (1859) has a rich history as a former retreat house, now a bed and breakfast.

        Battery Park (1877) built on the earthenworks of Fort Greene, provides a scenic place to relax and view spectacular sunsets over Newport Bridge.

        This colonial battery for the British was an American defense site in the War of 1812. Photo on left is just after WW1 when U.S. Navy battleships were anchored in the bay. A few steps down the driftway is Blue Rocks, a favorite swimming place, where you can see parts of the fort's old face.

       Van Zandt Pier has been a popular place for swimmers and fishing for generations. At low tide the steps allow the adventurous access to the shore.

       Pell (Newport) Bridge and the Naval Station are the northern boundaries of this fine friendly neighborhood.

       Public acces all along the shoreline has been guaranteed between the high tide and low tide marks. The driftways or steps allow easy acces to the water at every street along the way.
Chestnut St. Driftway       Willow St. Driftway
Note how the ends of the driftway streets go directly out to the water.
Index:
Harbor Walk North [The Point]
Harbor Walk South [Main Harbor]
Click Here for a Nice Printable Map of Newport Harbor from Citimaps.com©
North Trust Historical Marker Sign Dedication
King Park Path Dedication
Earth Day Action at Coddington Wharf Park
Harbor Walk Aerial Photo
Cliff Walk
Ten Mile Drive [Ocean Drive]
Newport Harbor Walk Home Page
Friends of the Waterfront, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not for profit, public interest group with a mission to:
Protect public access to the water;
Preserve historical uses and rights of way, and
Help foster the development of the waterfront in ways that maximize public access.
Friends of the Waterfront web sites include:
CliffWalk.com,
NewportHarborWalk.com,
TenMileDrive.com, and
NewportWaterfront.org.
We are always looking for volunteer help with our mission tasks. Contact the President
NewportHarborWalk.com v.6.1.2004 copyright ©, Friends of the Waterfront, Inc., PO Box 932, Newport, RI 02840
Web Master Vic Farmer, WebGhosts, Editorial Credits to Liz Mathinos, Amity Mack, Dave Wixted, and Vic Farmer. Map credit to Linnea Amtson
        This Newport Harbor Walk web site is still under construction. We welcome information or photos anyone would like to share with Newport's Friends of the Waterfront for possible inclusion into this site. Contact Vic Farmer