American Architect

Richard Morris Hunt was one of the most important architects in American history. His talent and vision brought respect to his profession in the mid-19th century and helped to craft the seductive style of the Gilded Age.

Island Cemetery has several connections to the man and his work. This tour will include the graves of people he designed buildings for in New York and Newport, monuments designed by Hunt, and the Hunt family burial lot. The tour will conclude inside the Belmont Chapel that was enhanced by Hunt.

This is a special tour and will only be offered on October 26th starting at 10 am.

Highlights of Island Cemetery

Island Cemetery and Lew Keen are presenting tours every Saturday starting on June 15, 2024. These tours will highlight people buried on our grounds while promoting appreciation of our landscaped arboretum and our outdoor sculptural museum. Please register by donating $15 per adult, $5 for children under 10 years of age.

Spirits of Island Cemetery

Step into Island Cemetery and experience history!  This special event brings to life some of the people buried here who were important in the time in which they lived. Members of the Dirty Blue Shirts will portray individuals from the past both in spirit and appearance.  Each presenation has been carefully researched. The 1.5-hour tour starts at the Warner Street entrance to the cemetery and ends in the Belmont Chapel where you’ll be greeted by August Belmont.  

Three tour times are available, please register for the time you wish to join the tour (1 pm, 2pm, 3pm).  Adult tickets are $30, children between the ages of 5-12 are $15.  Use the link below for tickets.

Highlights of Island Cemetery

Island Cemetery and Lew Keen are presenting tours every Saturday starting on June 15, 2024. These tours will highlight people buried on our grounds while promoting appreciation of our landscaped arboretum and our outdoor sculptural museum. Please register by donating $15 per adult, $5 for children under 10 years of age.

Gilded Age Graves Tour

The city of Newport was the playground of Gilded Age Americans who built the “cottages” that provide us with a glimpse of how they lived.   When death arrived, Island Cemetery became “the place” to be buried.  The cemetery is the final resting place of ordinary people and world-famous individuals.  While many buried here were part of the year-round Newport community, a surprising number of summer visitors chose Newport as their place for eternal rest. 

This tour will feature some graves of the notable Gilded Age people and monuments and include a visit to the Belmont Chapel

Highlights of Island Cemetery

Island Cemetery and Lew Keen are presenting tours every Saturday starting on June 15, 2024. These tours will highlight people buried on our grounds while promoting appreciation of our landscaped arboretum and our outdoor sculptural museum. Please register by donating $15 per adult, $5 for children under 10 years of age.

Guided Tours

Island Cemetery and Lew Keen are presenting tours every Saturday starting on June 15, 2024. These tours will highlight people buried on our grounds while promoting appreciation of our landscaped arboretum and our outdoor sculptural museum. Please register by donating $15 per adult, $5 for children under 10 years of age.

August Highlight Tour by a Native Newport

Frank Amaral, a native Newporter, has had a connection to Island Cemetery for over 50 years. He plans to lead an eclectic tour of the landscape that features history, art, horticulture, and he will share personal anecdotes from his decades of knowledge of the site. Hear stories about famous and not so famous people that rest in this remarkable place. The tour includes a visit inside the recently restored Belmont Chapel.

Frank has recently taken on the landscape job for Island Cemetery and his efforts have been celebrated by many people who walk the site on a daily basis. His keen knowledge from working the land gives him a unique perspective of Island Cemetery. His many years of connection allow you to look at the site through his eyes.

Join us Saturday, August 17th at 10 am for this special tour. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased below.

While registration for this free workshop is not required, if you know you can come, please fill out our Special Events form so we can check off your name, when you come.  This will also give us an idea of the size of our group.  People can still come that day who have not completed a form beforehand, so pass the word!  Thank you for volunteering!"

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Starting on June 15, 2024, Island Cemetery and Lew Keen will present guided tours on Saturday mornings to highlight and celebrate the people buried in the Island Cemetery. Visitors will experience the cemetery as an historic site, appreciate the landscaped arboretum and the outdoor sculptural museum.

$15 - Adults, $5 - children under 8, reservations required

2024 Saturday 10 am Guided Tour Schedule

July 6, 13, 30, 29

August 3, 10, 17*, 24, 31

September 14*, 28

October 12*, 26

November 9*, 23

Starting on June 15, 2024, Island Cemetery and Lew Keen will present guided tours on Saturday mornings to highlight and celebrate the people buried in the Island Cemetery. Visitors will experience the cemetery as an historic site, appreciate the landscaped arboretum and the outdoor sculptural museum.

$15 - Adults, $5 - children under 8, reservations required

2024 Saturday 10 am Guided Tour Schedule

July 6, 13, 30, 29

August 3, 10, 17*, 24, 31

September 14*, 28

October 12*, 26

November 9*, 23

Starting on June 15, 2024, Island Cemetery and Lew Keen will present guided tours on Saturday mornings to highlight and celebrate the people buried in the Island Cemetery. Visitors will experience the cemetery as an historic site, appreciate the landscaped arboretum and the outdoor sculptural museum.

$15 - Adults, $5 - children under 8, reservations required

2024 Saturday 10 am Guided Tour Schedule

July 6, 13, 30, 29

August 3, 10, 17*, 24, 31

September 14*, 28

October 12*, 26

November 9*, 23

Starting on June 15, 2024, Island Cemetery and Lew Keen will present guided tours on Saturday mornings to highlight and celebrate the people buried in the Island Cemetery. Visitors will experience the cemetery as an historic site, appreciate the landscaped arboretum and the outdoor sculptural museum.

$15 - Adults, $5 - children under 8, reservations required

2024 Saturday 10 am Guided Tour Schedule

July 6, 13, 30, 29

August 3, 10, 17*, 24, 31

September 14*, 28

October 12*, 26

November 9*, 23

Starting on June 15, 2024, Island Cemetery and Lew Keen will present guided tours on Saturday mornings to highlight and celebrate the people buried in the Island Cemetery. Visitors will experience the cemetery as an historic site, appreciate the landscaped arboretum and the outdoor sculptural museum.

$15 - Adults, $5 - children under 8, reservations required

2024 Saturday 10 am Guided Tour Schedule

June, 15, 22, 29

July 6, 13, 30, 29

August 3, 10, 17*, 24, 31

September 14*, 28

October 12*, 26

November 9*, 23

Starting on June 15, 2024, Island Cemetery and Lew Keen will present guided tours on Saturday mornings to highlight and celebrate the people buried in the Island Cemetery. Visitors will experience the cemetery as an historic site, appreciate the landscaped arboretum and the outdoor sculptural museum.

$15 - Adults, $5 - children under 8, reservations required

2024 Saturday 10 am Guided Tour Schedule

June, 15, 22, 29

July 6, 13, 30, 29

August 3, 10, 17*, 24, 31

September 14*, 28

October 12*, 26

November 9*, 23

Starting on June 15, 2024, Island Cemetery and Lew Keen will present guided tours on Saturday mornings to highlight and celebrate the people buried in the Island Cemetery. Visitors will experience the cemetery as an historic site, appreciate the landscaped arboretum and the outdoor sculptural museum.

$15 - Adults, $5 - children under 8, reservations required

2024 Saturday 10 am Guided Tour Schedule

June, 15, 22, 29

July 6, 13, 30, 29

August 3, 10, 17*, 24, 31

September 14*, 28

October 12*, 26

November 9*, 23