Touro Synagogue

Historically, Rhode Island has been a refuge for those who weren't welcome elsewhere, so it’s not surprising that America’s oldest synagogue can be found in Newport.

The outside of the Touro Synagogue, completed in 1763, doesn't hint at the restrained magnificence of the interior. Frequent tours teach visitors about the building as well as a bit of Jewish, Rhode Island, and American history, including the story of George Washington’s famous letter, "To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport,” known to many Americans for its assertion that the United States Government “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”