Touro Synagogue

Church Oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States

Newport’s 1763 Touro Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States, draws visitors for guided tours, colonial architecture and exhibits on early American Jewish life.

Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, is the oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States, built in 1763-1764. It is a National Historic Site and a National Historic Landmark known for its intact 18th-century building and historic interior.

The sanctuary retains its original eighteenth-century spatial arrangement and is noted for the synagogue’s high windows and central bimah area. Guided tours explain the building’s architecture, the history of Newport’s Jewish community, and the congregation’s continuing use of the site.

The synagogue was built for Newport’s Sephardic Jewish congregation in the 1760s and has been associated with important early American events, including the 1790 letter from President George Washington. It has been preserved and maintained by the congregation and federal historic programs.

The building is located on Touro Street in Newport’s historic district, a short walk from Newport Harbor and the city’s 18th-century colonial-era streets.

Age and significance: Dates to 1763-1764 and is the oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States.
Washington letter: Recipient of George Washington's 1790 letter affirming religious liberty in the new United States.

How to Get to Touro Synagogue #

Touro Synagogue is in downtown Newport, Rhode Island on Touro Street. It’s a very short walk (about 5 minutes) from Newport’s Thames Street and waterfront area; from central Newport you can reach it on foot in minutes. By car it’s roughly a 35-45 minute drive from Providence (about 34 miles/55 km) generally via RI‑138; on‑street and nearby municipal parking are available in Newport.

Tips for Visiting Touro Synagogue #

Touro Synagogue is open to the public only during scheduled guided tours-reserve a timed ticket through the preservation organization in advance, especially in summer and on cruise-ship days.
Book the first tour of the day to avoid larger mid-morning groups and to see the interior before school or tour groups arrive.
Check service days and Jewish holidays before you go; the building may be closed for religious observance, and security measures can affect entry procedures.
Take a few extra minutes to visit the nearby Touro Cemetery and the small visitor displays about the congregation's history-many visitors miss these contextual exhibits when they only view the synagogue interior.