Submitted by Lew Keen
This April and May, Rhode Island will promote awareness of its historic burial sites. While events occur across the state, many can be enjoyed in the City of Newport. All events are free but may require registration, and they are listed below.
The exhibit at the Newport Library provides a good overview of the many sites the city is fortunate to have. Drafts of signage being created for each site are on display in the Spring Street lobby and can be viewed during library hours.
Two presentations will take place at the Edward King House. The April 4th topic will be colonial stones and sites, and the May 2nd will explore Gilded Age Newport Graves.
Guided site tours will be offered at the Common Burying Ground, Island Cemetery, Fort Adams Cemetery, and the Gov. Arnold Graveyard. Please cross your fingers that the weather is enjoyable.
On Saturdays in May, volunteers are needed to help enhance the Common Burying Ground. The first project will be to paint rusting metal black. All supplies will be provided. In addition to the listed events, self-guided tours are located in the Common Burying Ground, Braman Cemetery, Coddington Burial site, and Clifton Burial site. Questions about any of the sites or events can be sent to npthistoriccemeteries@gmail.com.
Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Awareness and Preservation Weeks to take place in April
Newport Historic Cemeteries Exhibit April 2 – May 31
Newport Public Library
Spring Street
Many historic cemeteries enhance Newport. Posters highlighting seven of the sites will be on display in the Spring Street lobby of the Newport Library. A map of the city showing the location of all historic burial sites will also be on view. The posters are drafts of what will be interpretive signage that, once installed at each site, will provide information to visitors. The Newport Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission created the signs and are being funded by Discover Newport.
Colonial Newport Burial Sites & Stones Presentation
April 4, 2024 (Thursday)
2:00-3:00 pm
Edward King House
reservations- https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/8dsn2mg/lp/bc587806-62a3-4091-8292-49baa74041c9
Newport was one of the five major cities in colonial America and is fortunate to have hundreds of buildings and sites that showcase the city’s history. Included in these sites are colonial-era burial grounds and gravestones. They are outdoor museums that enhance the city and help to tell the story of the people who lived here.
This presentation will focus on burial sites that reflect the people and society of colonial Newport. Although Newport was a diverse community, burial practices were remarkable alike. Find out about the sites and the carvers who crafted the gravestones. The Stevens family of Newport was an important stone carver and will be a focus of the presentation.
Lew Keen has served on the state cemetery commission and is chair of the Newport Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission. He has documented graves in Newport for the state database and is the author of A Guide to Historic Burial Grounds in Newport, published by History Press in 2021. His website is ripnewport.com
This presentation is free of charge but reservations are required.
Arnold Burying Ground Tour and Alice Brayton
April 20, 2024 (Saturday)
10 am
reservations- npthistoriccemeteries@gmail.com
Nestled in the heart of Newport is a family burial ground with a remarkable story. The final resting place for members of the Arnold family was obliterated and later restored, thanks to the efforts of Alice Brayton. The tour will share the story and closely examine some of the remarkable colonial gravestones in the site.
The tour will be presented by Lew Keen, a state cemetery commissioner and chair of the Newport Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission. He has documented graves in Newport for the state database and is the author of A Guide to Historic Burial Grounds in Newport, published by History Press in 2021. His website is ripnewport.com
Musicians at Island Cemetery
April 20, 2024
11:30 am
Reservations linked here–
The Island Cemetery is home to over 60 musicians, who lived as far back as the 18th century. They served in the War of 1812 and the Civil War. They were composers, music teachers, and church organists. Some were born in Newport, and some came to Newport to make music.
This one-hour walking tour will focus on lives of the musicians whose final resting place is Newport’s historic Island Cemetery.
Musicians of the Fort Adams cemetery tour
April 27, 2024
10 am – 11 am.
Reservations- linked here
Musicians have served at Fort Adams since the earliest days of the Fort. They came to Newport, often with their families, to serve in the various Artillery Regiments stationed here, or with the 15th United States Infantry during the Civil War.
This one-hour walking tour will focus on musical life at Fort Adams and the lives of these musicians, and some of their family members, who are buried in Fort’s cemetery overlooking Narragansett Bay.
Musicians tour will be repeated at noon- reservations for noon tour linked here.
Common Burying Ground Tour
April 27 (Saturday)
10 am
reservations- npthistoriccemeteries@gmail.com
Explore Newport’s largest and most important colonial era burial site with a focus on gravestones and stone carvers. The tour will include an up-close look at work that has been done to preserve stones for future generations to enjoy. The tour will meet at the Warner Street entrance to the site.
The tour will be presented by Lew Keen who has served as a state cemetery commissioner and chair of the Newport Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission. He has documented graves in Newport for the state database and is the author of A Guide to Historic Burial Grounds in Newport, published by History Press in 2021. His website is ripnewport.com
Gilded Age Graves in Newport Presentation
May 2, 2024 (Thursday)
2:00-3:00pm
Edward King House
reservations- https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/mavrqej/lp/d1f15b4a-3519-45d5-be59-62b62fbbe998
The city of Newport was the playground of Gilded Age Americans who built the “cottages” that stand today and provide a glimpse of the places they lived. When death arrived, Island Cemetery became “the place” to be buried. The cemetery is the final resting place of ordinary people to world famous individuals. While many buried here were part of the year-round Newport community, a surprising number of summer visitors chose Newport as their place for eternal rest. Members of Mrs. Astors 400, explorers, civil rights leaders, architects, politicians and military heroes are among the people discussed in the presentation.
The cemetery has a rich variety of sculptured monuments, some designed by noted architects. The presentation will include grave markers that reflect both the wealth and style of the time.
Lew Keen has served as a state cemetery commissioner and chair of the Newport Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission since 2016. He has documented graves in Newport for the state database and is a co-author of Discover Island Cemetery: Notable People and Monuments from the Gilded Age to Modern Times. His website is ripnewport.com
This presentation is free of charge but reservations are required.
Volunteer work at Newport’s Common Burying Ground
May 4, 11, 18 (Saturday)
10 am
Volunteers will help enhance this historic burial site. The main effort will be to paint rusting metal poles and gates. All materials will be provided and no experience is needed. Please send an email to npthistoriccemeteries@gmail.com to let us know you plan to participate as cancelation due to wet weather may be needed.
Decoration Day at Island Cemetery Tour
May, 26 (Sunday)
10 am
reservations- npthistoriccemeteries@gmail.com
Cemeteries have been important Memorial Day sites since the holiday was created. This tour honors a selected number of people who served our country in the military. Some died while in service, one received the Congressional Medal of Honor, and some fought in multiple wars. While many of the people on the tour served in the Spanish American and Civil Wars, veterans of other military campaigns will be included in the tour. The tour will be presented by Lew Keen, a state cemetery commissioner and chair of the Newport Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission. He has documented graves in Newport for the state database and is a co-author of Discover Island Cemetery: Notable People and Monuments from the Gilded Age to Modern Times. His website is ripnewport.com