Touro Synagogue National Historic Site, Newport: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Touro Synagogue stands at 85 Touro Street in Newport, Rhode Island, the oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States, dedicated in 1763. Designed by colonial architect Peter Harrison, the Georgian-style exterior conceals a two-story interior with twelve Ionic columns—representing the twelve tribes of Israel—supporting a women's gallery. George Washington addressed a letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport in 1790, affirming that the U.S. government "gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." The building was designated a National Historic Site in 1946. is just one of many options in Newport. Major attractions worth considering include Marble House, Newport Cliff Walk, and The Breakers.