Image courtesy of The Preservation Society of Newport County
NEWPORT, R.I. – The Preservation Society of Newport County (“Newport Mansions”) is proud to announce that the Isaac Bell House, one of the nation’s most significant examples of Shingle Style architecture, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation, presented by Preserve Rhode Island. The house is considered one of the most important properties in the Preservation Society’s portfolio.
Each year, Preserve Rhode Island celebrates the remarkable achievements of individuals and organizations for their efforts in utilizing historic preservation to strengthen communities, improve quality of life, and address social challenges. Awardees span from Westerly to Pawtucket to Tiverton, showing that preservation efforts impact communities across the state. The Isaac Bell House is among this year’s 10 recipients, honored for its recent restoration and enduring architectural legacy.
Built between 1881 and 1883 by the firm of McKim, Mead & White for Isaac Bell Jr., a cotton broker, investor, and ambassador to the Netherlands, the house is a National Historic Landmark celebrated for its elegance and innovative design. Blending English Queen Anne, New England Colonial, Japanese, and French/Breton influences, it introduced features such as sliding doors, a pinwheel floor plan, and an emphasis on natural light and ventilation—elements that would later influence the domestic work of Frank Lloyd Wright.
In 2024–25, the Preservation Society completed a $3.3 million restoration of the property, overseen by Kirby-Perkins Construction. The project included replacing the exterior shingles with Alaskan yellow cedar shingles, stripping and repainting the exterior woodwork, restoring all original windows and shutters, fabricating new storm windows, replacing rotted wood in columns and other exterior features, and repointing chimneys and lower-level brick. This was the first major work since the Society acquired the property in 1996 and undertook its initial restoration before opening it to the public in 1999.
“I am incredibly impressed with the achievements of these awardees. This year’s slate of projects and people demonstrate preservation excellence. It’s an honor to celebrate them.”
— Sheryl Hack, Executive Director, Preserve Rhode Island
“We are thrilled to be recognized for a third time by Preserve Rhode Island for our continued preservation work on the Isaac Bell House, one of the crown jewels in our portfolio of historic houses here at The Preservation Society of Newport County.”
— Trudy Coxe, CEO, The Preservation Society of Newport County
The 17th Annual Rhody Awards will take place at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 4–7 PM, where the Isaac Bell House will be celebrated alongside nine other awardees from across Rhode Island. More information about the awards can be found here.
About The Preservation Society of Newport County
The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island, is a nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes, decorative arts, and social history. Its 11 historic properties – seven of them National Historic Landmarks – span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.
