Historic cemeteries are scattered all over Aquidneck Island. Most are small and some have only one grave.

Colonial Jewish Burying Ground

The historic ground is located at the three-way intersection of Kay Street, Touro Street and Bellevue Avenue. The classic Egyptian revival stone-carved gateway has imposing columns supporting a stone cap with typical angel wings carved into the stone. The structure is flanked by iron fencing.

You’ll find gravestones for Newport’s first Jewish community, dating back to the 1700s, such as Aaron Lopez a wealthy Colonial merchant and Moses Sexias, the man who invited George Washington to Newport where he read his famous letter extolling religious freedom.

The gravestones are styled in the Colonial form and lettered in Hebrew, English and other languages.

This historic ground was described in poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The grounds are open for public touring once a year.

For detailed information, check this link:

http://www.tourosynagogue.org/history-learning/cemetery-literature

For more information on George Washington’s message see the page so titled.