Touro Synagogue

The oldest standing synagogue in the United States, Touro Synagogue was built in 1763 to accommodate Newport's growing Jewish community, which had begun to arrive in 1658. During the Revolutionary War, the British used the synagogue as a hospital, sparing it the fate of many of the surrounding buildings, which were torn down for kindling. The synagogue, a National Historic Site, is an active house of prayer, so from May through October tours run every day except Saturday.