The Newport Historical Society (NHS) will open the Colony House, the fourth oldest statehouse still standing in the United States, to the public as part of Newport’s Fourth of July celebrations. This year’s Independence Day celebrations are part of two years of NHS programming commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, continuing throughout 2025 and 2026.

The Colony House will open on Monday, July 4, at 9 a.m. and remain open until 11 a.m. At 11 a.m., the Declaration of Independence will be read from the building’s steps by the Sons of the Revolution. A 21-gun salute by the Artillery Company of Newport will follow at 11:30 a.m. on Washington Square. The Colony House will also be open later for self-guided tours beginning at noon.

“The Road to Yorktown began here in Newport, and with the 250th anniversary of American independence approaching, there has never been a better time to celebrate Independence Day in a city that is so important to our nation’s story,” said Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the NHS. “We invite all Newport residents and visitors to start their Fourth of July festivities at the Colony House and learn about the outsized impact our community had on America’s Revolutionary legacy.”

WHAT: Newport Historical Society Independence Day Celebrations

WHEN: July 4, 2025; 9 to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: The Colony House, Washington Square, Newport, RI