When you have 387 years of history under your belt, you’re bound to have some epic “firsts.” Some are more well-known than others.

Did you know that the first gas-illuminated streetlights in the United States were lit on Newport’s Pelham Street? Good chance you've seen the bronze plaque. Did you know that Newport was home to the first US Open, International Polo Match, and National Lawn Tennis Championships? Maybe, we've mentioned it before.

But, perhaps you didn't know that Newport had the first photograph taken by electric light? Or that Newport was the site of the first duplex house?

While normally quite humble, even we must admit, we have some serious bragging rights. Read on for a full roster. 

Newport First 

Making history, one first at a time. 

  1. First Ferry
  2. Oldest Tavern in Country
  3. First to Pass a Traffic Ordinance
  4. Oldest House of Worship
  5. Oldest Schoolhouse in the United States
  6. Oldest Military Unit
  7. Oldest Circulating Library
  8. First Duplex House
  9. Oldest Newspaper
  10. Oldest Synagogue
  11. First Circus in the USA
  12. First Colony to Declare its Independence from England
  13. First Notable Celebration of George Washington’s Birthday
  14. First Gas-Illuminated Street Lamp
  15. Oldest Mutual Savings Bank
  16. Oldest Sailing Regatta in the USA
  17. First Female Lighthouse Keeper
  18. First Public Roller Skating Rink in the USA
  19. First Photograph Taken by Electric Light
  20. First National Lawn Tennis Championship
  21. Oldest US Naval War College
  22. First International Polo Match
  23. First Amateur Championship
  24. First US Open
  25. First Auto Race
  26. First Automobile Arrest in the USA
  27. Hosted Oldest Sailing Race
  28. First Designated National Recreation Trail in New England
  29. First ESPN X-Games
  30. Only Original Three-tiered Wineglass Pulpit
  31. First Airplane Passenger Line in the USA
  32. Oldest Typewriter in the USA
  33. Most Colonial Homes

First Ferry

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Newport operated the first ferry service in the nation.

Date: 🗓️ 1657
Location: 📍 Newport Harbor

Oldest Tavern in Country

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The White Horse Tavern is built, the oldest tavern building in continuous use in the United States.

Date: 🗓️ 1673
Location: 📍 26 Marlborough St, Newport

White Horse Tavern

First to Pass a Traffic Ordinance

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Newport was the first city to pass a traffic ordinance. 

Date: 🗓️ 1687
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Oldest House of Worship

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The Quaker Meeting House (Great Friends Meeting House) is built, Rhode Island’s oldest house of worship.

Date: 🗓️ 1699
Location: 📍 21 Farewell St, Newport

Great Friends Meeting House

Oldest Schoolhouse in the United States

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Schoolhouse in Portsmouth is built, and today is the oldest schoolhouse in the United States.

Date: 🗓️ 1716
Location: 📍 Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Oldest Military Unit

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Newport has the oldest military unit in continuous service under its original charter from 1741.

Date: 🗓️ 1741
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Newport artillery

Oldest Circulating Library

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The Redwood Library & Athenaeum is established, the oldest circulating library in continuous use in the United States.

Date: 🗓️ 1745
Location: 📍 50 Bellevue Ave, Newport

Redwood Library

First Duplex House

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Newport was the site of the first duplex house, located at 57 Farewell Street.

Date: 🗓️ 1750
Location: 📍 57 Farewell Street, Newport

Oldest Newspaper

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The Newport Mercury was founded, the oldest newspaper in continuous operation in the United States.

Date: 🗓️ 1758
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Oldest Synagogue

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Touro Synagogue built in Newport, the oldest in synagogue the western hemisphere.

Date: 🗓️ 1759
Location: 📍 85 Touro Street, Newport

First Circus in the USA

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Newport hosted the first circus in the country.

Date: 🗓️ 1774
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

First Colony to Declare its Independence from England

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Newport, the colonial capital of Rhode Island, was the first of the thirteen colonies to declare its independence from England.

Date: 🗓️ May 4, 1776
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

First Notable Celebration of George Washington’s Birthday

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Newport held the first notable celebration of George Washington’s birthday, hosted by Count De Rochambeau of France.

Date: 🗓️ 1781
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

First Gas-Illuminated Street Lamp

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The first gas-illuminated streetlights in United States were lit on Newport’s Pelham Street.

Date: 🗓️ 1803
Location: 📍 Pelham Street, Newport

First Gas Street Lamp Pelham Street

Oldest Mutual Savings Bank

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BankNewport founded, the oldest mutual savings bank in the United States.

Date: 🗓️ 1819
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Oldest Sailing Regatta in the USA

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The first New York Yacht Club Regatta, the oldest sailing regatta in the country.

Date: 🗓️ 1854
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

First Female Lighthouse Keeper

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Ida Lewis, the first female lighthouse keeper, operated the Lime Rock Light. Her many saves were legendary and she was visited by President Ulysses S. Grant and Vice-President Schuyler Colfax.

Date: 🗓️ 1857-1911
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

First Public Roller Skating Rink in the USA

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Newport was the site of the first public roller skating rink in the United States, housed inside a see-and-be-seen resort hotel, the Atlantic House.

Date: 🗓️ 1866
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

First Photograph Taken by Electric Light

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Newport had the first photograph taken by electric light.

Date: 🗓️ 1866
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

First National Lawn Tennis Championship

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Newport was home to the first National Lawn Tennis Championship.

Date: 🗓️ 1881
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Oldest US Naval War College

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Newport is home to the oldest US Naval War College.

Date: 🗓️ 1884
Location: 📍 US Naval War College, 686 Cushing Road, Newport

Naval War College Museum

First International Polo Match

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Newport was home to the first International Polo Match.

Date: 🗓️ 1886
Location: 📍 Westchester Polo Club, Newport

First Amateur Championship

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Newport hosted golf’s first Amateur Championship at Newport Country Club.

Date: 🗓️ 1895
Location: 📍 Newport Country Club, 280 Harrison Ave, Newport

First US Open

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Newport hosted golf’s first US Open at Newport Country Club.

Date: 🗓️ 1895
Location: 📍 Newport Country Club, 280 Harrison Ave, Newport

First Auto Race

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Newport was home to the first auto race.

Date: 🗓️ 1895
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

First Automobile Arrest in the USA

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Newport was the site of the first automobile arrest in the country when the offender was charged with driving 15 miles per hour.

Date: 🗓️ 1904
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Hosted Oldest Sailing Race

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The prestigious America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, was raced in the waters off Newport.

Date: 🗓️ 1930 - 1983
Location: 📍 Off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island

First Designated National Recreation Trail in New England

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The Cliff Walk became the first designated National Recreation Trail in New England.

Date: 🗓️ 1975
Location: 📍 Cliff Walk, Newport, Rhode Island

Cliff Walk Newport RI

First ESPN X-Games

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Newport hosted the first two years of the ESPN X-Games.

Date: 🗓️ 1995 & 1996
Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Only Original Three-tiered Wineglass Pulpit

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Trinity Church has the only three-tiered wineglass pulpit in its original location in the United States.

Location: 📍 1 Queen Anne Square, Newport

Trinity Church

First Airplane Passenger Line in the USA

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Newport was the site of the first airplane passenger line in the United states between Newport and New York City.

Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Oldest Typewriter in the USA

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Newport is home to the oldest typewriter in America which can be found at the Newport Historical Society. 

Location: 📍 Newport Historical Society, Newport

Most Colonial Homes

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Newport has more colonial homes in use than any other location in the United States.

Location: 📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Spring Blooms at Queen Anne Square

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