National Historic Site

Touro Synagogue

of

Jeshuat Israel Congregation

Founded 1658

Ths oldest synagogue building in the United States was designed by Peter Harrison. Ground was broken August 1, 1759. It was dedicated on December 2, 1763. Here, 1781-84 The Rhode Island General Assembly met, and during Washington’s visit to Newport in 1781 a town meeting was held here. The State Supreme Court held sessions here at that period. The building was reopened for religious services on August 2, 1850. In 1790 George Washington wrote to this congregation that . . . “Happily the Government of the United States . . . . gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”

National

Park Service

United States

Department of the Interior

Marker is at the intersection of Touro Street and Division Street, on the left when traveling east on Touro Street.

Courtesy hmdb.org

Credits and Sources: