Fort Adams guards the harbor mouth in Newport, Rhode Island, a large coastal fortification spread in front of you. This place was an active military fort from 1841 through the first half of the 20th century, and in 1965 the State of Rhode Island took possession for use as a state park. The land here was once owned by William Brenton, who called the region "Hammersmith," a name that survives nearby in Hammersmith Farm.
Today the park still carries that long story while hosting lively present-day life: it hosts the annual Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival and is home to Sail Newport and Eisenhower House. Look around and you’ll see the park’s recreational side — swimming, boating, picnicking, and athletic fields — including the Joseph "Jay" Kirwin Memorial Rugby Pitch where the Newport Rugby Football Club and Salve Regina University teams play. There are also two soccer fields/rugby pitches, and each summer the annual Newport Rugby Sevens Tournament is held here.
The Fort Adams Trust offers seasonal guided tours that walk you through the fort’s history and spaces. Picture the panoramic views of the harbor and Narragansett Bay opening before you.