A new exhibition at the Newport Historical Society is set to shine a light on the Newport Fire Department’s nearly 300-year journey.
Opening December 17 at the Richard I. Burnham Resource Center in Newport, “Raise the Alarm: Newport Fire Department through the Decades” offers a free, in-depth look at the department’s evolution.
The exhibit starts with the purchase of Newport’s first fire engine in 1734 and brings visitors right up to the present day. It paints a vivid picture of the city’s early volunteer fire clubs and their 18th-century firefighting tactics, which mainly involved stopping fires from spreading and saving whatever they could from burning buildings.
Visitors will learn about the Board of Firewards, established in 1822, which brought order to Newport’s firefighting efforts by managing the various firefighting groups across the city. This board later became part of the Newport Fire Department when it was officially formed in 1858.
The exhibition doesn’t just tell a story – it shows it. With displays from the Newport Historical Society’s collection of NFD materials and insights into some of Newport’s most significant fires (courtesy of the Newport Daily News Photo Archive), visitors can see how firefighting has changed over three centuries.
As a special treat, the exhibit features a section celebrating the 130th anniversary of NFD Station 5, located at Touro and Mary Street.
The opening reception is scheduled for December 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. While it’s free to attend, registering in advance here is a good idea.
Newport Historical Society provided the following press release on December 12;
Newport Historical Society Explores
History of the Newport Fire Department in New Exhibition
NEWPORT, RI – The Newport Historical Society (NHS) will unveil next week a new exhibition, “Raise the Alarm: Newport Fire Department Through the Decades.” Sponsored by Discover Newport, “Raise the Alarm” showcases the history of the Newport Fire Department beginning with the purchase of a fire engine for Newport in 1734.
“The Newport Fire Department is an essential institution in our city with a rich history all its own. With the strong support and partnership of the department, and by poring through our archival collections, we have put together a compelling exhibition that we can’t wait to share with the community,” said NHS Executive Director Rebecca Bertrand.
The opening reception is on Tuesday, December 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and registration is strongly encouraged.
“We all know what the department and its capabilities look like today, but there is so much to learn about how we got here. We’re grateful to our partners at the Newport Historical Society for helping us to dive deeper into the Newport Fire Department’s history and share how that foundation informs our ongoing mission” said Newport Fire Chief Humphrey Donnelly IV, a native Newporter who has served in the city’s fire department for 25 years. “We invite everyone to come learn more about the history and legacy of the department.”
This exhibition is generously sponsored by Discover Newport
“Raise the Alarm” will be on display and available for viewing during normal business hours at the NHS headquarters in the Richard I. Burnham Resource Center through April 25, 2025. The opening reception on the 17th is free and open to the public. All guests who make a $10 donation or more to the Newport Historical Society will receive a free drink.
