Nine Ways to Explore the Sailing Museum in Newport, Rhode Island

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On a recent visit to Newport, Rhode Island, we enjoyed exploring one of Newport’s newest museums- The Sailing Museum. Opened in the spring of 2022 on Thames Street in the heart of Newport, the Sailing Museum celebrates the sport of sailing, the individuals who have made sailing popular, and the pure joy that comes from enjoying “life on the open seas”. The seaside town of Newport is the ideal location for sailing, with its deep harbor in Narragansett Bay. Newport was home to the US Naval Academy in the 1860s and  is well known for its summer “cottages” (aka historic mansions) of the Gilded Age and its rich history with the sports of both sailing and tennis (the International Tennis Hall of Fame is also located in Newport.)

The Sailing Museum is located in the former 1894 Newport Armory, built for the Rhode Island Militia, and later used to house the RI National Guard, the America’s Cup press office, and even an antiques marketplace.  Schoonmaker Hall on the main level of the museum is organized into six themed areas: Wind and Water, The Mental Making of a Sailor, the Physical Making of a Sailor, Teamwork, Competition, and the National Sailing Hall of Fame. The lower level of the building is home to the Newport Maritime Center, a public access facility that offers amenities to visiting sailors. 

There are several activities visitors can complete throughout the exhibits to learn more about sailing and the daily life of a sailor. Be sure to grab an electronic bracelet when you check in (and you get to keep it as a souvenir!) to record your progress and add rewards to your electronic “sailing locker.”

Travel Tips:

  • The museum is open daily from 10am-5pm; check here for updated hours and admission fees. Kids 10 and younger receive free admission.
  • There is a small gift shop, restrooms, a water fill station, and a coat rack located near the admission desk.
  • The museum is handicapped accessible via an elevator for the second floor. Strollers must be left in the main lobby areas (toddlers won’t want to sit in a stroller anyway!)
  • There is metered street parking and several, small parking lots near the museum. Check here for up to date information on parking in downtown Newport. 
  • There are no dining facilities on site, but literally dozens of restaurants within steps of the museum. A safe bet for the whole family is the Red Parrot Restaurant across the street.
  • Plan on 60-90 minutes to fully explore the museum and complete all the challenges.

Nine Ways to Explore the Sailing Museum:

  1. Complete all eight activities throughout Schoonmaker Hall and add rewards to your electronic “Sailing Locker” (visitors can also email their locker home).
    1. Take the personality quiz to help design your own sailboat  and then build your boat
    2. Race the sailboat using a tiller
    3. Design a personalized burgee flag
    4. Practice parking the sailboat in a slip
    5. Beat the clock on the agility training exercise
    6. Complete the grinding challenge
    7. Take the quiz to test knowledge of famous sailing race finishes.
    8. Compete on the Teamwork Table to get the boat across the finish line.

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  1. Read about some of the dual inductees into both the America’s Cup Hall of Fame and the National Sailing Hall of Fame on the interactive touch screens.  The official America’s Cup Hall of fame is located in nearby Bristol, Rhode Island the Sailing Hall of Fame inside the museum has displays featuring both Halls.
  2. Check out the various gear sailors have to wear, based on the weather conditions.
  3. Practice making different types of knots.
  4. Fly over the ocean in the dome with the simulated SailGP
  5. Test your nautical slang vocabulary.
  6. Explore all the places where you can learn to sail back home on the interactive map.
  7. Head upstairs to check out the display of burgees of sailing clubs that support the museum.
  8. Learn the international code of signals, using a flag for each letter in the alphabet, which dates back to 1855.

Looking for more adventures in Newport- check out our City Guide here, our hiking guide here, and our holiday guide here. And follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and X.

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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6 Comments

  1. I’m not a big sailor and don’t understand it, but with so many interactive displays the museum looks like a lot of fun for us non-sailors!

    Reply

  2. I never thought of visiting a sailing museum. But Rhode Island sure looks like a good spot to start. Great way to learn more about sailing before taking up the sport. And lots of family fun too!

    Reply

  3. Wow! This looks like such a fun experience, even if you’ve never sailed a day in your life (like me). Would definitely love to visit one day. Thanks for the inspo.

    Reply

  5. The sailing museum in Newport is a great idea! I grew up sailing and would love to have a chance to explore this one.

    Reply

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