Black history and culture are an integral part of the Newport community. Housed in the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House (c. 1697), the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History will celebrate the contributions of Black Newporters throughout history and today.
From local family genealogy to research from partners across the country, this Center will make accessible a more complete understanding of Newport history and its relationship and relevance to the rest of the world.
Preserving Black history and making it more accessible has long been a priority of the Newport Historical Society. In August 2024, the NHS launched the $5 million Voices campaign to make a Center for Black History a reality. Its opening in 2026 is the result of the generous contributions of our donors and the fierce commitment of our community.
Fueled by a shared vision from the Newport Historical Society and its partners in the Black community, the Center for Black History is nearly complete. With the support of owner’s representative KCM Group, award-winning architect David Parker has brought this vision to life, continuing his firm’s legacy of achievement in historic preservation.
We have an exciting weekend of events planned to celebrate this milestone event. Stay tuned for more details on each opportunity, and we hope to see you at the Center soon!
The Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History will soon open its doors, but our work is far from complete. A gift designated to the Center will ensure that Black history in Newport is more visible, accessible, and experiential for generations to come.
While Newport’s rich history is the cornerstone of our vibrant tourism economy, we cannot tell a selective story. The city’s past and present are built upon the slave trade and as we prepare to celebrate the semiquincentennial in 2026, there remains no historic site that is dedicated to telling this story in New England.
The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, a 327-year-old architectural treasure, needs significant renovations to become accessible and meet the preservation needs of the historic site.
A Newport center for Black history, in partnership with Black-led community organizations including the Newport Middle Passage Port Marker Project, will be a hub for research, education, exhibitions and community engagement, driving conversation and action towards equality.
In addition to the tremendous support of the entire Newport Historical Society team, this initiative has been driven by a key group of partners.
DIRECTOR
– Akeia de Barros Gomes, PhD.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
– Joanna Baker de Neufville
– Daniel Benson
– Nancy Brickley, Treasurer
– Helen Burnham
– Nancy Cushing Evans
– Wendy David
– Dorienne Farzan
– Anne F. Hamilton, Secretary
– Harriet Harris
– Leslie B. Hull
– Elizabeth Leatherman
– Karen Lloyd
– Douglas Newhouse, President
– Nancy Parker Wilson
– Diana Pearson
– Sandra Peterson
– Leila Ray
– Dwight Sipprelle, Vice President
– Kathryn (KK) Streator
– Lisa Stuart
– Thomas P.I. Goddard, President Emeritus
– Dennis McCoy, President Emeritus
– Paul McGreevy, President Emeritus