Step into Newport’s past with a lantern-lit tour of the Common Burying Ground. Discover stories of colonial life, maritime legends, and local heroes, brought vividly to life by passionate guides.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
1.5–2 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most ages and fitness levels, easy walking required
Wildlife
History
The Common Burying Ground has served as Newport’s main cemetery since the late 1600s, with each stone telling a story of colonial life, maritime trade, and Revolutionary War heroes.
Conservation
The tour emphasizes respectful preservation of the graves and encourages visitors to leave no trace.
Newport History Tours
Step into Newport’s past with a lantern-lit tour of the Common Burying Ground. Discover stories of colonial life, maritime legends, and local heroes, brought vividly to life by passionate guides.
Newport History Tours offers expert-led walking tours and self-guided experiences in Newport, Rhode Island, focused on the city’s layered past.
The company presents a curated program of guided walks, lantern tours, themed historical events, and a QR-code self-guided visit to the Colony House.
Tours explore Colonial Newport, African American maritime heritage, Revolutionary-era events, the transition from the Golden Age to the Gilded Age, and the evolution of local firefighting.
Several walking tours are designed to run in about an hour, offering concise, accessible history for visitors of all ages.
Guided experiences include lantern-lit cemetery walks, narrative-driven explorations of legends and lore, and programs that highlight maritime culture within the African diaspora.
Public events such as “Two Lights for Liberty: Sip & Celebrate America 250” pair historic settings with craft refreshments to mark civic anniversaries and support local historical initiatives.
The Colony House Self-Guided QR Code Tour enables flexible, smartphone-accessible exploration of an iconic colonial landmark.
Newport History Tours emphasizes factual storytelling anchored in documented places and artifacts across the city.
Presentations reference local sites including Station 5 and the Common Burying Ground, and they incorporate accounts of entrepreneurship, religious diversity, civic unrest, and community resilience.
The approach balances scholarly research and engaging narrative to make Newport’s history approachable for families, independent travelers, and history enthusiasts.
Visitors seeking concise, site-specific historical context, thematic depth, or seasonal evening programming will find a range of options tailored to different interests and mobility levels.
Bookings and schedules are available on the company website directly.
Tours Offered
10 tours
Guided and self-guided options
Typical Length
≈1 hour
Most walking tours run about an hour
Local Focus
Newport history
Stories of community and culture
Reserve a spot on a guided walk, lantern tour, or the Colony House self-guided experience to discover Newport’s living history.
Dress for the weather
Bring layers and a flashlight for a safe, comfortable walk under lantern light.
Arrive early
Get there a few minutes before the tour to settle in and enjoy the ambiance.
Bring a notebook
Jot down interesting stories or symbols you want to remember.
Respect the site
Avoid touching or disturbing the gravestones to preserve their integrity.
Comfortable walking shoes
Supportive shoes help you navigate uneven ground comfortably.
Flashlight or phone flashlight
Illuminates dark paths during the lantern-lit tour.
Warm layers
Keep comfortable as evening temperatures drop.
fall,winter
Notebook and pen
Capture and reflect on stories and symbols you encounter.
Event Highlight
Two Lights for Liberty
Special event at Colony House