Chartered in 1747 by 46 prominent citizens of Newport with “nothing in view but the good of mankind,” the Redwood Library & Athenæum is a hybrid museum, rare book repository, and the nation’s oldest public neo-classical building. Designed by Peter Harrison, the Library is a registered National Historic Landmark. The
Library's public spaces include the original structure (now known as the Harrison Room), as well as the Reading Room, The Delivery Room, and two art galleries. Six stunning Palladian windows in the Reading Room provide ample light, and the Library's Original Collections of volumes, purchased in 1750, still grace the walls of the Harrison Room. A fine collection of 18th- and 19th-century portraits hang in the public rooms, creating a stunning backdrop to your celebration.
