Help Celebrate Newport’s Shared History by Honoring George T. Downing

The Newport Branch of the NAACP and RI Slave History Medallions invite you to contribute to the George T. Downing Statue in his honor at Touro Park and Bellevue Avenue, Newport

We are excited to officially announce RISHM’s campaign to build the first-ever statue of a person of color to be erected in Newport. 19th century Black entrepreneur and abolitionist George T. Downing (1809-1903) will be commemorated via a life-size statue, to be sculpted by renowned public art sculptor Vinnie Bagwell. We are currently on the docket to receive final City of Newport approval in mid-December and then our official campaign will begin.

In the meantime, we ask you to support our efforts by helping to fund these new and ongoing initiatives:

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Downing Commemorative Public Art Project

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Black History Month Programming

Newport Juneteenth Celebration

Newport Black History Walking Tours

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George T. Downing

George T. Downing was one of the most recognized business and civil rights leaders in 19th century America. The son of restaurateur Thomas Downing, George T. Downing was born on Dec. 30, 1819 in New York City. Downing was well established in Newport and Providence as the proprietor of the Sea Girt House luxury hotel located at the Downing Block along historic Bellevue Avenue, and he owned a catering business on Benevolent Street in Providence.

In addition to his Rhode Island hospitality businesses, Downing was the manager of the U.S. House of Representatives dining room in Washington, D.C. While there he befriended Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, a lifelong friend, and political ally. Sumner and other political contacts would lend much-needed political support to Downing for his special causes. Downing lobbied tirelessly to desegregate Rhode Island public schools in 1866.

He would later lead the repeal of the state’s ban on interracial marriage and take on racial discrimination in the reorganization of the Rhode Island militia. In 1865, Downing also was among a group of wealthy Newport contributors who would purchase the land that would become Touro Park.

This statue commemorating George T. Downing embodies the bonus privilege of being the first statue of a person of color ever to be erected in Newport; fittingly, it will be adjacent to his former property and businesses.

Help Celebrate Newport’s Shared History by Honoring George T. Downing

The Newport Branch of the NAACP and RI Slave History Medallions invite you to contribute to the George T. Downing Statue in his honor at Touro Park and Bellevue Avenue, Newport

Fund-a-need

George T. Downing

Let's Make History Together.

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