Don’t Break The Breakers!
Preserving and restoring the unique historic landscape at The Breakers is critical to the stewardship of the property. That’s why we’ve formed the Friends of Newport Preservation to advocate for a solution that respects Newport’s incredible Gilded Age jewel.
In the spirit of compromise the Friends of Newport Preservation has presented the Preservation Society of Newport County with reasonable alternatives to the proposed location of the Welcome Center on the grounds of The Breakers. The group seeks to work with and support the Society in reaching a solution that meets visitor needs and protect Newport’s heritage.
We can’t do this alone! The Friends of Newport Preservation is proud to partner with BOPNA. Visit their Breakers Welcome Center Page to learn about our shared efforts.
In the spirit of compromise the Friends of Newport Preservation has presented the Preservation Society of Newport County with reasonable alternatives to the proposed location of the Welcome Center on the grounds of The Breakers. The group seeks to work with and support the Society in reaching a solution that meets visitor needs and protect Newport’s heritage.
We can’t do this alone! The Friends of Newport Preservation is proud to partner with BOPNA. Visit their Breakers Welcome Center Page to learn about our shared efforts.
We Need Your Help to Protect & Preserve
the Historic Integrity of The Breakers!
Get Involved
- Follow and share the Friends of Newport Preservation Facebook page
- Write a letter to the editor about what the history of The Breakers means to you!
- Share your stories and letters with FriendsofNewportPreservation@gmail.com
- Sign our Change.org petition
In the News
- 8/9/17 Breaking Ground, Newport Life Magazine
- 8/3/17 Where is the Eloquence?, Newport This Week
- 7/8/17 Photos: Stylish Protest Saturday To 'Save The Breakers', Newport Patch
- 7/7/17 Saturday Noon: Protest At The Breakers, Newport Patch
- 7/7/17 Preservationists planning protest against Breakers welcome center, Newport Daily News
- 7/6/17 History Defiled, Newport This Week
- 7/3/17 Breakers visitors center plan is an abomination, Newport Daily News
- 5/18/17 Preservation Society breaks ground on Breakers welcome center, WPRI 12
- 5/18/17 Ground broken for Breakers welcome center, NBC 10
- 5/18/17 Breakers mansion introduces ‘Welcoming Center’, ABC 6
- 5/16/17 Breakers Welcome Center: Groundbreaking Set for Thursday, Newport Patch
- 5/12/17 Jim Gillis should go back to being funny and informative, The Newport Daily News
- 5/10/17 Preservation commission hears update on Breakers welcome center proposal, NBC 10 News
- 5/10/17 Governor Asked to Review Controversial Breakers Proposal, WhatsUpNewp
- 5/10/17 Breakers' Welcome Center: Raimondo Asked to Intervene, Newport Patch
- 4/29/17 With construction imminent, petition pushes to relocate Breakers welcome center, WPRI 12
- 4/27/17 Don’t Break The Breakers: Online Petition Has Gathered Signatures from all 50 U.S. States, WhatsUpNewp
- 4/27/17 Restoring Breakers landscape would enhance visitors' experience, Newport Daily News
- 4/21/17 A visitor center at The Breakers is not the right solution, Newport Daily News
- 4/20/17 Charity Richins: Visitors center will hurt Breakers, The Providential Gardener
- 4/20/17 A Visitor Center at The Breakers is Not the Right Solution, Newport This Week
- 4/20/17 Visitors center will hurt Breakers, Providence Journal
- 4/18/17 Letter: Visitor center at Breakers mansion will hurt more than help, The Westerly Sun
- 4/15/17 Nesi’s Notes, WPRI
- 4/11/17 Welcome center critics are right, Newport Daily News
- 4/11/17 In Newport, a Contest in Which One-Man-One-Vote Was for Losers, The New York Times
- 4/11/17 Work on controversial Breakers visitor center scheduled to begin, Providence Journal
- 4/11/17 Daily News Roundup, Chronicle of Philanthropy
- 4/11/17 New Petition Started Against Breakers Welcome Center, Newport Patch
- 4/10/17 The Breakers visitors center to rise soon, The Westerly Sun
- 4/10/17 Construction on visitors center at The Breakers to begin, Miami Herald
- 4/10/17 Construction on visitors center at The Breakers to begin, Boston.com
- 4/7/17 Opposition to Breakers Welcome Center: Meeting Tonight, Newport Patch
- 4/6/17 Is Newport a Company Town?, Newport This Week
- 4/5/17 Friends of Newport Preservation to host community forum, Newport Daily News
- 4/5/17 Breakers visitor center opponents offer $200K for alternate plan, Providence Business News
- 4/4/17 Preservation Society must do what is right for The Breakers, Newport Daily News
- 4/4/17 Opposition of Welcome Center Offers $200,000 to ‘Save The Breakers Landscape’, Whatsupnewp
- 4/4/17 Breakers welcome center opponents try new strategy, Newport Daily News
- 4/2/17 Gloria Vanderbilt Cooper: Welcome center has nothing to do with preservation, Providence Journal
- 3/30/17 Alternative Breakers Visitor Center Forum, Newport This Week
- 3/29/17 Experts Will Consider Future of The Breakers at Community Forum in Newport, WhatsUpNewp
- 3/23/17 True Preservation Appears Lost, Newport This Week
- 3/20/17 Guest View: Newport Preservation Society Refuses to Negotiate a Compromise on Unpopular Breakers Proposal, WhatsUpNewp
- 3/19/17 D.A. Zeghibe: Newport Preservation Society has lost its way, Providence Journal
- 3/18/17 Preservation Society leadership has abandoned its true mission, Newport Daily News
- 3/16/17 Letter to the Editor: It’s Time for Compromise, Newport This Week
- 2/16/17 Breakers’ welcome center opponents petition for alternatives, Providence Business News
- 2/4/17 Don't break The Breakers, Newport Daily News
- 2/4/17 Let's work together to find a better solution for visitors center, Newport Daily News
- 2/2/17 Working Together, Newport This Week
- 1/28/17 Visitors center will ruin Breakers, Providence Journal
- 1/27/17 They’re no friends of The Breakers welcome center, Newport Daily News
- 1/24/17 Rhode Island high court won’t block planned visitors center at The Breakers, Portland Press Herald
Additional Resources
| Restore the Serpentine Garden Walk Presentation 4_07_17 |
About Friends of Newport Preservation
Friends of Newport Preservation is working to protect the historic integrity of Newport’s most valuable historic assets and the quality of life for all residents. The group organized to advocate for the protection of The Breakers, recognizing that the proposed development of the property will have an adverse effect on all of Newport. Our efforts have support from community members, local and national experts in preservation, conservation, planning, architecture, and landscape design. The group’s ultimate goal is that our community’s unparalleled collection of historic properties will continue to captivate Rhode Islanders and visitors alike, while enabling Newport to prosper as a residential community through protecting its historic landmarks. This webpage is made possible by the Bellevue Ochre Point Neighborhood Association.
Friends of Newport Preservation Members
Joanne and Henry Breyer, Donald Christ, Maureen Donnell, Ron Fleming, Linda Gordon, Mary Joan Hoene, Judy McLennan, Stephanie McLennan, Elizabeth “Lisette” Prince, Diana Slocum, Gladys V. Szapary, Paul L. Szapary, Gladys Roberts Thomas, William Vareika
Friends of Newport Preservation Members
Joanne and Henry Breyer, Donald Christ, Maureen Donnell, Ron Fleming, Linda Gordon, Mary Joan Hoene, Judy McLennan, Stephanie McLennan, Elizabeth “Lisette” Prince, Diana Slocum, Gladys V. Szapary, Paul L. Szapary, Gladys Roberts Thomas, William Vareika