Newport is considered to be the cornerstone of Rhode Island. Established in the late sixteen hundreds, it has been home to some of the richest and most prominent families in the United States. Many consider Newport to be the one-time home of America's royalty. Situated on the southernmost tip of Aquidneck Island, it is the sailing capital of the world as well as one of the nation's most elegant summer resort spots. In the eighteenth century, Newport was one of the wealthiest ports in the nation. Rum and molasses trade flourished and made the area a tremendous force in the trade industry.

The Newport area was founded in 1639 by religious refugees from the Massachusetts Bay colonies. Quakers and Jews came to the region seeking religious freedom. Many Jews fled religious persecution in Portugal, the West Indies and the Netherlands to make Newport their home. The area has been host to many nationalities, including the French during the Revolutionary War. The French marked the area with their cuisine and their architecture, an influence that can still be seen today.

In the eighteen-hundreds Newport became a playground for the rich and famous. The "Famous 400," some of the richest in the world have called Newport their home. They have filled this historic city with some of the largest and most extravagant parties in the world. The extravagance of the area even claimed partial inspiration to the author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his famous novel The Great Gatsby.