Back to "Search by Style" Page Back to "Search by Current Use" Page Back to "Search by Architect" Page
Back to "Search by Landmark Status" Page Back to "Search by Date of Construction" Page Back to "Browse Entire Database" Page

CityNewportStateRI

Historical NameTouro Synagogue

Year Built1759
Building TypeSynagogue

Address85 Touro Street

Current Namesynagogue

Name of Builder 1PeterHarrison

Name of Builder 2

Name of Builder 3

ListingNational Historic Landmark, 10/15/66

DescriptionMeasuring 35 feet by 40 feet, the Touro has an exterior which does not look like a synagogue

but is similar to a modest early 18th century old south meeting house with two tiers of round

arched windows separated by a belt course. However, the plan of the interior follows the

Sephardic ritual and resenbles the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam.

StyleGeorgian Revival

Bibliography

SignificanceOfficially owned by New York City's Congregation Shearith Israel, the congregation was

organized in 1658 by Sephardic Jews who had arrived as merchants from the British West

Indies colony of Barbados. It was named after the congregation's first minister, Isaac Touro.

One of George Washington's letters to the Jews of the United States was addressed to the

Newport congregation and contains his famous phrase that the government of the United States

"gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."

Page 1 of 3

Next

Back to list in Rhode Island