The Newport Historical Society is inviting residents and property owners to show their civic pride ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday with the purchase of a limited-edition “witness flag” — a handcrafted pennant honoring the city’s outsized role in the American Revolution.
The flags, locally made by Maritime Tribes of Fall River, bear the semiquincentennial dates 1776–2026 and are designed to hang on doors, fences, in yards or windows. They are available in two sizes: a garden pennant for $85 and a full-size flag for $150.
“The march to Yorktown started in Newport, and our city played a vital role in the nation’s courageous pursuit of independence,” said Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society. “These beautiful, handcrafted flags remind us that the revolutionary spirit that defined America in 1776 remains a part of the city’s identity today.”
The pennants symbolize the hundreds of Newport properties that witnessed the Revolution and still stand as part of the city’s landscape — a living reminder of Newport’s deep ties to the founding of the nation.
Orders can be placed by calling 401-846-0813, ext. 110, or by emailing Membership@NewportHistory.org.
The witness flags are just one piece of a broader calendar of events the Newport Historical Society has planned for 2026. Throughout the year, residents can take part in an ongoing series of Tavern Talks and explore a new exhibition examining the three occupations of colonial Newport. On Juneteenth, the society will open the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History. July will bring a first-ever Independence Week, a weeklong celebration of the semiquincentennial.
Founded in 1854, the Newport Historical Society is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Newport County’s history through six historic properties, tours, educational programs, a museum and a library.