Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Hisham’s Palace
Cresson Sanatorium and Prison
Leo The Lion
Deception Pass Bridge
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The cute capybara.
Animal Takeover: Brace Yourself for Adorable Hordes
about 11 hours ago
The Codex Gigas (the Devil’s Bible) open to the portrait of the devil.
Codex Gigas: Who Drew the Devil in This Massive Medieval Bible?
1 day ago
USDA and Washington State agriculture officials tagged this Asian giant hornet. Sept. 10, 2021.
What Ever Happened to the Murder Hornets?
2 days ago
The exterior of the Hall of Records.
Atlas Obscura Mailbag: Urban Exploration, Illegal Carvings, and Repeat Vacations
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Rhode Island Newport Queen Anne Square’s “Meeting Room”

Queen Anne Square’s “Meeting Room”

Designed to not only to represent the history of the local community but also, the future.

Newport, Rhode Island

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Queen Anne Square’s “Meeting Room”   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Queen Anne Square’s “Meeting Room”   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Queen Anne Square’s “Meeting Room”   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Queen Anne Square’s “Meeting Room”   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Queen Anne Square’s “Meeting Room”   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

There is a subtle, oft-overlooked but intriguing installation in Newport's Queen Anne Square, titled "The Meeting Room." Designed by artist Maya Lin and installed in 2013, it's a three-part art installation meant to bring the local community of the past back to life.

The Meeting Room's three foundations represent the actual locations of buildings that stood on the site in the past: 1777, 1876, and 1907. Each of them is meant to emulate an outdoor room; its threshold stones are hand-carved with mallet and chisel, inscribed with excerpts from local journals and writings spanning centuries. The calligraphy, done by Nick Benson of the John Stevens Shop, closely mirrors that of each corresponding era.

The Foundation Room, the largest part of the three, consists of a granite water table with nine holes that bubble water from an invisible "spring." It represents the nine families that founded Newport in 1639, as well as the sources of water that provided life to them. Meanwhile, the Long Room's inscriptions describe local farming and sailing during the 19th century in Baskerville lowercase Roman.

The Hearth, arguably the most eye-catching part of the Meeting Room imitates a 19th-century parlor, complete with a historically accurate replica of a fireplace and chimney. Inscribed in the italic style once popular in the 1800s, it contains many excerpts detailing everyday life, such as one Fanny Clarke's diary entry from 1876: "Rained all day. Made jelly & did various other Housekeeping matters which consumed the Morning."

The installation does not only look into the past, but at the future of the community as well. Designed for maximum sustainability, the materials for the Meeting Room's foundations and walls come from Newport's old sidewalks and demolished bridge. The LED lamps mimic the color of gas lamp lights, and the variety of trees is selected from native species.

Related Tags

History & Culture Design Art

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

March 1, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Queen Anne Square’s “Meeting Room”
51 Touro St
Newport, Rhode Island, 02840
United States
41.487255, -71.314672
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Location of the First Gas Street Lamp

Newport, Rhode Island

miles away

Artillery Company of Newport Museum

Newport, Rhode Island

miles away

Cornè House

Newport, Rhode Island

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Newport

Newport

Rhode Island

Places 21
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Location of the First Gas Street Lamp

Newport, Rhode Island

miles away

Artillery Company of Newport Museum

Newport, Rhode Island

miles away

Cornè House

Newport, Rhode Island

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Newport

Newport

Rhode Island

Places 21
Stories 2

Related Places

  • Al Balad

    Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Al Balad

    For centuries, Jeddah’s old town was a major trading port and a point of entry for Hajj pilgrims traveling by sea.

  • The Tower as seen from the parking lot below

    Brasília, Brazil

    Torre de TV Digital

    One of the last designs from architect Oscar Niemeyer.

  • Stone Gargoyle Chair

    Durham, England

    Stone Gargoyle Chair

    An unusual stone chair can be found on the banks of the River Wear, not far from Durham Cathedral.

  • ‘The Gorbals Boys’

    Glasgow, Scotland

    'The Gorbals Boys'

    A sculpture that commemorates an iconic photo of urban Scotland's past.

  • The Alauna Aura at night

    Maryport, England

    'Alauna Aura'

    This sculpture depicting the history of Maryport turns into a light show at night.

  • Garden Chapel.

    Maitland, Florida

    Art & History Museums of Maitland

    This historical art colony is adorned with thousands of hand-carved concrete sculptures in the Mayan Revival style.

  • The Trongate Cherub

    Glasgow, Scotland

    The Trongate Cherub

    An angelic, yet demonic-looking figurine presides over one of Glasgow's most ancient streets.

  • The Gallery Whitehead

    Whitehead, Northern Ireland

    The Gallery Whitehead

    This Edwardian style home doubles as a magnificent local art gallery.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.