A Newport Historical Society Tavern Talk
Join historian Cherry Fletcher Bamberg at 82 Touro Street for a Tavern Talk that untangles the true story of Newport’s sunken town records. This one-hour lecture and pre-talk reception offer a compact, source-driven window into a key moment of Revolutionary-era Newport history.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
1 hour (6:30–7:30pm)
Fitness Level
No physical fitness required; accessible seating and mobility needs should be confirmed with the organizer.
Wildlife
History
The lecture focuses on records lost at the end of the British occupation of Newport and their recovery in December 1782, events that shaped access to pre-Revolutionary town documents.
Conservation
Respect archival spaces by avoiding food or drink near exhibits, and choose low-impact transit downtown to reduce pressure on the historic district.
Newport History Tours
A Newport Historical Society Tavern Talk
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.
Arrive for the reception
The light reception begins at 5:30 p.m.; arriving early gives you time to mingle and find seating before the 6:30 p.m. talk.
Bring ID for discounts
Student, military, and membership pricing may apply—carry appropriate ID to access lower rates.
Contact for accessibility
Accessibility details are not listed; if you need accommodations, contact the Newport Historical Society ahead of time.
Plan transit into downtown
Downtown street parking can fill quickly in evenings—consider walking, biking, or a short rideshare to 82 Touro Street.
Comfortable shoes
Historic downtown venues may involve short walks and standing during the reception.
Layered jacket
Evening coastal breezes can be chilly, especially after you step outside to the harbor.
fall
Notebook and pen
Bring a notebook to capture citations and references Cherry Fletcher Bamberg will mention.
Photo ID
Event Highlight
Two Lights for Liberty
Special event at Colony House
ID may be required for membership, student, or military discount pricing.