The Newport Historical Society will open the doors of the Colony House on July 4th as part of the city’s Independence Day celebrations, offering residents and visitors a chance to experience history at one of America’s oldest government buildings.
The Colony House, which stands as the fourth oldest statehouse still operating in the United States, will welcome the public from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, July 4th. The morning’s events will culminate with a reading of the Declaration of Independence from the building’s steps at 11 a.m., performed by the Sons of the Revolution.
Following the Declaration reading, the Artillery Company of Newport will conduct a 21-gun salute at 11:30 a.m. on Washington Square. For those wanting to explore further, the Colony House will reopen at noon for self-guided tours.
“The Road to Yorktown began here in Newport, and with the 250th anniversary of American independence approaching, there has never been a better time to celebrate Independence Day in a city that is so important to our nation’s story,” said Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society. “We invite all Newport residents and visitors to start their Fourth of July festivities at the Colony House and learn about the outsized impact our community had on America’s Revolutionary legacy.”
The celebration is part of the Newport Historical Society’s two-year programming series commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, which will continue through 2025 and 2026.
The Colony House is located on Washington Square in Newport. The Newport Historical Society, founded in 1854, operates six historic properties and maintains extensive collections spanning five centuries of Newport County history.
For more information about the Newport Historical Society, visit www.NewportHistory.org.
