Newport Black History Walking Tour - Rhode Island Slave History Medallions

Newport Black History Walking Tours

Tickets for RISHM’s 2026 Black History Walking Tour Season are now available! Tours will be held Saturdays and Sundays from May 23rd to October 31st from 10 AM to 11:15 AM.

There will be no tour held on June 20th - come to our Juneteenth Celebration instead!

Lost Stories of Resistance & Freedom

Program presented by Rhode Island Slave History Medallions.

Take a walk with us across Historic Hill to learn about – and honor – Newport’s Colonial Black American History.

All sales are final.

Attendee Testimonials

"You gave us some fascinating insights into the Black community in Newport, especially the Free African Union Society - so impressive!"

"I enjoyed the tour immensely. I haven't taken too many Newport tours, but foremost in my mind is how various themes can be relayed using the same townscape as the background."

"It was amazing! Thank you for coordinating this & providing this resource."

"The biggest surprise for me was Cato Vernon. He got a special commendation for good behavior, fidelity, being trustworthy and bravery at the conclusion of the revolutionary war."

"I enjoyed the tour very much. Our guide was excellent and knowledgeable about history. The length of the tour was perfect and the walk was manageable."

"We have been to Newport dozens of times and never knew its history with enslaved peoples."

"We appreciated the positive/respectful manner in which all of the information was presented."

"I was fascinated to learn about the black history that had been missing from my knowledge of Newport history."

"Our guide was excellent, courteous and knowledgeable about history in general. This tour is a must for rounding out Newport’s amazing, long history."

"Learning details about specific enslaved people and their lives, as well as the organizations of free Africans"

"The stories of individual 'hidden' enslaved people Use of James Baldwin quotes How the medallions were conceived and created"

"Seeing the medallions and knowing they are going up everywhere with QR codes to tell the African American influence in American history."

Interested in biking to our tours? Join the movement and enjoy the ride while helping reduce traffic congestion! Click here for routes, maps, Park & Bike locations, and more via our partner Bike Newport.

RISHM's Walking Tours

Newport Black History Walking Tours are led by trained guides and will be held Saturdays and Sunday mornings, from May 23rd through October 31st. Each tour will start on Bowen’s Wharf, near the Pilot House, at 10 AM where the wharf meets America’s Cup Boulevard.

The approximately one-mile tour through Historic Hill will end at Eisenhower Park on Washington Square, in front of the Colony House at approximately 11:15 am.

Please note guests will be walking over some cobblestones and uneven ground, with a slight incline, so comfortable footwear is suggested. The tour will last for about 75 minutes.

Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for students and military personnel (with ID), and $10 for children under age 12 (with the exception of infants who are free).

Custom tours available on Mondays and on request at $25 each. Custom tours also by request.

Contact us at info@rishm.org about scheduling a custom tour

Public restroom facilities are available along the route.

Details about biking to the tour our available on Bike Newport’s Website.

RISHM's Pledge

Our entire team at RISHM and Newport Black History Walking Tours is committed to diversity, inclusion and sustainability. We work hard to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all, while also minimizing our collective carbon and waste impact on the physical environment we walk upon. We respect the local businesses and historical sites we will see along our route, while taking pride in sharing Newport’s previously untold stories of our forefathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and neighbors who walked these sidewalks and paths in earlier centuries.

RISHM's Values

Newport Black History Walking Tours is a unique walk-through-history experience that has been made possible by RI Slave History Medallions (RISHM.org). NBHWT has been established and produced with the belief that the daily history of all cultures and peoples has relevance for all, and still resonates with us today. Our trained historians and educators have worked tirelessly to discover more untold stories about early Black Americans and to share the contributions they made and legacies they left.

Tour Details

Hours

10 AM – 11:15 AM on Saturdays and Sundays from May 23rd to October 31st 2026.

On July 4th, the Tour will be leaving at 12 noon, not 10 AM as the reading of the Declaration of Independence takes place at 11:00.

Special Group Tours are Available

We can customize a tour to suit your special interests, or try to accommodate a specific date that is not on our schedule. Contact info@rishm.org for more information.

Custom tours available on Mondays and on request at $25 each.

Private Tours

To book a private tour, contact info@rishm.org

Watch this space for periodic updates to our Newport Black History Walking Tours programming!

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at info@rishm.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Metered street parking is available throughout downtown Newport. For details about city parking lots click here.

We cannot currently accommodate large groups on our standard tour but would be happy to find availability for a private group tour. Please contact us directly at info@rishm.org.

The walking tour is outside during the day. Please make sure you provide your own standard sun protection including sunblock, hats or UV protective clothing. Please bring a water bottle or rain protective clothing/umbrella during inclement weather conditions.

Advanced purchase is strongly recommended, to guarantee your spot. After tour start time, if spots are available, tickets can be purchased at our tour kiosk.

You can change or cancel your booking date up to 24 in advance before your tour. You can do this directly through the ticketing site. All sales are final.

We welcome guide dogs and other trained service animals, but we cannot accommodate other animals on the tour.

Please dress for the weather. We will cancel a tour if there is severe inclement weather, such as lightning, ice, gale winds, or blizzard conditions. Most tours will depart if it’s raining. We will offer the option to reschedule or cancel for a full refund.

Newport Black History Walking Tours

Tickets for RISHM’s 2026 Black History Walking Tour Season are now available! Tours will be held Saturdays and Sundays from May 23rd to October 31st from 10 AM to 11:15 AM.

Lost Stories of Resistance & Freedom

Program presented by Rhode Island Slave History Medallions.

Take a walk with us across Historic Hill to learn about – and honor – Newport’s Colonial Black American History.

All sales are final.

Attendee Testimonials

"You gave us some fascinating insights into the Black community in Newport, especially the Free African Union Society - so impressive!"

"I enjoyed the tour immensely. I haven't taken too many Newport tours, but foremost in my mind is how various themes can be relayed using the same townscape as the background."

"It was amazing! Thank you for coordinating this & providing this resource."

"It was amazing! Thank you for coordinating this & providing this resource."

"The biggest surprise for me was Cato Vernon. He got a special commendation for good behavior, fidelity, being trustworthy and bravery at the conclusion of the revolutionary war."

"I enjoyed the tour very much. Our guide was excellent and knowledgeable about history. The length of the tour was perfect and the walk was manageable."

"We have been to Newport dozens of times and never knew its history with enslaved peoples."

"We appreciated the positive/respectful manner in which all of the information was presented."

"I was fascinated to learn about the black history that had been missing from my knowledge of Newport history."

"Our guide was excellent, courteous and knowledgeable about history in general. This tour is a must for rounding out Newport’s amazing, long history."

"Learning details about specific enslaved people and their lives, as well as the organizations of free Africans"

"The stories of individual 'hidden' enslaved people Use of James Baldwin quotes How the medallions were conceived and created"

"Seeing the medallions and knowing they are going up everywhere with QR codes to tell the African American influence in American history."

RISHM's Walking Tours

RISHM's Pledge

RISHM's Values

Tour Details

Hours

Special Group Tours are Available

Private Tours

Frequently Asked Questions

Let's Make History Together.

Search the RISHM Site