Hammersmith Farm

Hammersmith Farm is a 28-room Victorian mansion overlooking Narragansett Bay in Newport with grounds designed by the prestigious Olmsted Brothers. The 97-acre property displays the full scope of late 19th-century residential architecture and landscape design.

Architect Robert H. Robertson designed and built the estate in 1887 for John Winthrop Auchincloss as a Victorian residence. The construction marked the beginning of a property that would remain significant to Newport's architecture for generations.

The property held deep meaning for the Kennedy family and served as a seasonal retreat during years of national prominence. Visitors can see rooms that reflect this important chapter in American public life.

The property sits in a scenic waterfront location that is easily accessible from downtown Newport. Visitors should plan to spend several hours exploring the extensive grounds and interior rooms at a leisurely pace.

The estate hosted one of the country's most celebrated wedding receptions in 1953 and later served as an unofficial presidential working retreat. Few visitors realize the extent to which major government decisions were influenced by the informal setting of this waterfront property.