Museum of Newport History

Before setting foot in any of Newport’s mansions [1], culture and history buffs should take a detour to Museum of Newport History (82 Touro St., 401/846-0813, www.newporthistorical.org [2], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, $4 adults, $2 children), a well-laid-out mix of pieces of the town’s past (with an emphasis on the 18th century): paintings, ship models, textiles, and antique furniture. The museum also offers walking tours of town.