A historic house in Newport, Rhode Island, is being restored to its former glory, thanks in part to funding from Senator Jack Reed dedicated to preserving the nation’s history.
The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House (WLHH) was built in the 1690s, and is home to a family of enslaved Africans. The house also housed the families of two governors of Rhode Island, and was a hub for the Newport Historical Society.
The landmarked building is being restored by the Newport Historical Society, with help from a $300,000 federal earmark secured by Senator Jack Reed. The funds will be used to fix issues with the building’s exterior and foundation, increase accessibility in accordance with ADA standards, and install plumbing, electrical upgrades, an HVAC system, safety features, and other improvements to make the museum safe and comfortable for visitors.
The senator says he hopes the renovated WLHH will draw people to learn more about Black history and illuminate the early Black experience in Newport from slavery to freedom and from survival to achievement. When completed, the WLHH will be closed to visitors for years.
“The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard house has many important stories to tell about Newport, our nation’s founding, and our evolution as a community and society,” said Senator Jack Reed. “The Newport Historical Society is doing critical work preserving and sharing the history of this home and the people who lived here, and uncovering the stories that were too often pushed aside or forgotten.”
Newport Historical Society to create a center for Black history
Details on how the Newport Historical Society will transform Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House into Center for Black History
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
