Newport RI, Coastal Town in Northeastern U.S.

International Destinations Are Rated For Their Historic Preservation

Dec 2, 2008 Barbara Shema

Newport Rhode Island, selected by National Geographic Traveler survey of Historic Places Destinations, has mixed reviews from the experts and mixed reaction from locals.

The National Geographic Traveler has designated and rated 109 destinations for preservation stewardship. The survey was conducted by the National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations.

How Were the Historic Preservation Destinations Chosen

According to the National Geographic Traveler magazine and website, this survey was done in conjunction with “a panel of 280 well-traveled experts in a variety of fields— historic preservation, ecology, sustainable tourism, geography, travel writing and photography, site management, indigenous cultures, archaeology” and is not about the most popular tourist destination, “but rather an assessment of authenticity and stewardship.”

What Areas are Covered in the National Geographic Survey

The survey includes places in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe, Greater Middle East, North America, and Oceania. The list includes 109 cities worldwide with viable historic preservation that includes 32 destinations in the United States, and 17 in Europe.

In listing 109 destinations, each overview on the website is rather brief, not giving much information about the location. The website lists a compilation of sometimes disparate comments from various people. It will take additional work on the part of the reader to locate these historic areas within the brief overview of the city.

The list is also oddly structured in that the cities in the areas other than North America are listed by country, where those United States destinations are listed by state and then city…as if the list were written primarily for those in the U.S.

Looking More Closely at One Destination in North America – Newport RI

Having a personal familiarity with Newport RI, one comment in particular on the website seemed inaccurate leaving the question as to whether that expert had actually visited this New England destination. The inaccuracy is the statement of Newport as a “riverfront”.

Newport Rhode Island is a coastal town on the Narragansett Bay that opens to the Atlantic Ocean…it is not on a river. The downtown business district with a variety of shops borders on Newport Harbor, a working marina where sailboats and yachts are docked near the working lobster boats and other fishing boats.

The survey does mention historic importance of the mansions of the Gilded Age on Bellevue Avenue that were summer homes for the rich and famous of the 19th century, and the Cliff Walk that extends along the backyards of these mansions overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, but calls the shops in the business district a "hodgepodge".

Historically Significant Features in Newport Rhode Island

Other places of historical interest in Newport that were not mentioned are:

• St. Mary's Church where Jacqueline Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married
• Tennis Hall of Fame with courts still in use from the first U.S. National Championships in 1881
• America's Cup sailing history
• historic inns and bed & breakfasts

Newport Local Reaction to the Places Rated Designation

In the article "Newport Deals with Left-Handed Compliment" written by Richard Salit in the November 30 edition of the local newspaper,The Providence Journal, there were mixed feelings among the residents, business people and local preservationists who were grateful for the honor, but hope to learn from the survey's comments.

For those who want to experience an historic town on the Atlantic coast of New England, Newport RI is indeed a place of historic importance that is well worth a visit.

The copyright of the article Newport RI, Coastal Town in Northeastern U.S. in NE U.S. Travel is owned by Barbara Shema. Permission to republish Newport RI, Coastal Town in Northeastern U.S. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Shops in Newport RI	Historic Newport RI Harbor	Restaurant on Historic Thames Street
Sailboat Masts in Newport RI Marina	St. Mary's Church Newport RI