The Road to Yorktown Started in Newport.
In 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence. This milestone serves as a reminder of the many ways in which our nation’s revolutionary spirit continues to inspire and influence our identity today.
Birthplace of the Franco-American Alliance that would bring the war to an end, Newport played an essential role in American independence. Inside a half-mile stretch of our City by the Sea, you can take a walk in the shoes of the brave men and women whose stories still reverberate in our life and culture.
OCCUPIED! Newport and the Fight for Independence
Open Monday through Friday | 9am to 3pm
Richard I. Burnham Resource Center | 82 Touro Street, Newport
During the Revolutionary War, Newport changed hands more than any other major seaport in North America. Valued for its deep-water harbor and strategic location, successive Continental, British, and French forces occupied the town during the conflict. At the outbreak of the war, Revolutionary forces seized control of a divided community. In December 1776 British forces occupied Aquidneck Island, and for three years Newport was again part of the British Empire until their departure in October 1779. Arriving in July 1780, Newport hosted a French force sent across the Atlantic to support the fledgling United States. In June 1781, those troops departed Rhode Island for Yorktown, Virginia, where they played a pivotal role in the decisive battle that secured American independence.
For more information about this exhibition visit the exhibition page.