How would you respond to the call of the Revolution?

Explore the lives and choices of Patriots and Loyalists in Colonial Newport and learn how they made history in turbulent times.

In the Newport Historical Society’s latest exhibition, follow along as six Newporters navigate the everyday dilemmas of a city awaiting the Revolution’s spark. Discover how information spread, opinions were influenced, and uncertainty took hold on the eve of the Revolution. Featuring interactive displays, period artifacts, daily reporting in local media, and a 17thcentury printing press, Newport 1775: Whose Side Are You On? is on view from May 15 through December, free of charge, at the Newport Historical Society’s Richard I. Burnham Resource Center.

Thursday, May 22nd, 2025

Richard I. Burnham Resource Center | 82 Touro Street, Newport

Admission $15-$20 per person | *Student Discounts now available $10 with valid student ID

6:30pm to 7:30pm; doors open at 5:30pm for a complimentary reception

Join the Newport Historical Society for a compelling lecture that explores the deep divisions and shifting loyalties in Newport on the eve of the American Revolution.

The outbreak of the American Revolution forced people to make difficult choices in a dangerous and uncertain time. As a civil war between rebellious colonists and the Empire unfolded rapidly after the battles of Lexington and Concord, people across British North America chose which side to take and what course to pursue based on ideology, family ties, economic interests, and material survival. No one knew which side would emerge victorious, and the decisions made at the outset of the conflict had long-lasting changes. Those who sided with the victors stood to make fortunes and rise from obscurity to prominence, while those who picked the losing side faced the loss of their homes, livelihoods, and sometimes even their lives.

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