Annual Report - Newport Mansions

The Preservation Society of Newport County is unique. It is
among the four most visited cultural institutions in New
England, which include the MFA in Boston, the Museum of
Science in Boston, and the Boston Aquarium. There is no other
organization quite like it.
The museum role that the Preservation Society has
undertaken in the execution of its mission has provided a
powerful platform to expand upon its message of historic
preservation. The Newport Mansions themselves serve as
advocates for that message. The houses tell a compelling story
about America’s cultural heritage through the lives of the
families, craftsmen, and staff that built and maintained them.
The story of their preservation and conservation engages and
educates the visitor. That the houses can be experienced in their
local neighborhoods as a part of the fabric of the community
promotes the value of historic preservation in enhancing
community quality of life visually, contextually and
economically. The Preservation Society and the Newport
Mansions have evolved over time into a museum and cultural
attraction with a mission that harkens back to its early roots.
It is a message today which carries far beyond the local
community to the many visitors from all over the world who
visit the Newport Mansions every year. Through its lectures,
symposia, educational programs, research, and outreach, the
Preservation Society is able to engage and inform the public, and
its message serves to act as a catalyst for preservation.
Looking back at its history, the Preservation Society was
unable to devote an enormous amount of financial and staff
resources to politically champion the cause of historic
preservation, and yet it was ultimately quite successful. Much of
the financial resources they were able to raise were required to
maintain the houses and collections, and they promoted the cause
by example. That remains the case today. The Preservation
Society continues to encourage historic preservation locally,
regionally, and nationally and to work collaboratively with other
Newport Flower Show Chair Bettie Pardee with Bartlett Tree Experts President Greg Daniels (left)
and Chairman Robert Bartlett, Jr.
Annual Report 2007-2008 5
Photo by corbettphotography.net
organizations. Staff and volunteers of the Preservation Society
weigh in at the State House and at City Hall when matters
relating to historic preservation are under consideration.
This past winter the trustees and staff looked closely at the
mission and history of the Preservation Society to craft a mission
statement which would articulate the most important elements
that define our organization: what we do, why we do it, and for
whom. I would like to share it with you now:
Great Houses connect people to a nation’s heritage and open
windows to another age.
The Preservation Society of Newport County is a non-profit
organization whose mission is to protect, preserve, and present an
exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes in one
of the most historically intact cities in America.
We hold in public trust the Newport Mansions which are an
integral part of the living fabric of Newport, Rhode Island.
These sites exemplify three centuries of the finest achievements in
American architecture, decorative arts, and landscape design
spanning the Colonial era to the Gilded Age.
Through our historic properties, educational programs, and
related activities we engage the public in the story of America’s
vibrant cultural heritage.
We seek to inspire and promote an appreciation of the value
of preservation to enrich the lives of people everywhere.
On behalf of the Board and staff of the Preservation Society,
I want to thank you all for your support of this wonderful
organization. I want to thank the Board of Trustees for their
guidance and governance, our many volunteers who have given
of their time and talent over the past year, and I especially want
to thank Trudy Coxe and the extraordinary professional staff
and employees of the Preservation Society for making it all
work so well.