The Newport Historical Society will open the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History on Juneteenth 2026, marking what the society calls a transformative step toward a more inclusive telling of the city’s history.
Developed in partnership with Newport’s Black community, the center will serve as a hub for research, scholarship, education and community engagement, aiming to foster conversations about race while advancing a more complete understanding of the city’s past.
“The opening of the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History is an exciting milestone for both the Historical Society and the City of Newport,” said Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society. “Through this dynamic new space, we will explore voices and histories that have been too long overlooked and put them at the center of our conversation. We hope to inspire dialogue, deepen understanding, and help preserve and share the enduring contributions of Black Americans.”
The center will feature rotating and permanent exhibitions, educational programs, ongoing research and special events, with programming hosted both by the Newport Historical Society and its community partners.
The center was made possible through a lead gift from Ed Kane and Marty Wallace, part of a capital campaign that raised nearly $5 million.
“Creating this Center in collaboration with Newport’s Black community has been a deeply meaningful and fulfilling journey,” said Akeia de Barros Gomes, director of the Center for Black History. “The experiences of Black Newporters are fundamental to Newport life and culture — throughout history and today — and we are so excited to share this reimagined space with the community for the first time.”
The opening will be celebrated over three days. An official ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 19, at the center, located at 17 Broadway.
A free family day and open house follows on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the center’s lawn, featuring storytelling, crafts and a dance performance by Soul Value, a program celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary through historical research and creative interpretation.
That evening, the opening celebration will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Great Friends Meeting House at 21 Farewell St., with a 5 p.m. entrance for VIP ticket holders. The event will feature keynote remarks from Heather McGhee, scholar and author of “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together,” followed by a fireside chat with de Barros Gomes.
The celebration concludes with an interfaith celebration at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, at the center.
More information about the opening events is available at NewportBlackHistory.org.
