fbpx
Donate
Tour

Second Annual Fort Adams Trust Block Party

HomeSecond Annual Fort Adams Trust Block Party

Saturday, October 25, 2025

4:30pm–7pm

(Registration opens August 11)

Event Details

4:30pm–5:45pm

Behind the Scenes Exploration

5:48pm

Sunset—Retiring of the Colors, Cannon Fire

5:45–7:00pm

Open bar, live music and passed hors d’oeuvres inside the Fort

These are the spaces we will open for our behind the scenes exploration. They are currently not open to the public.

Southeast Demibastion

The Southeast Demibastion is one of Fort Adams’ key defensive structures and also served a vital role in daily life as the location of both the kitchen and latrines. Built as part of the original 19th-century fortifications, this area is often considered the heart of the Fort, as it was one of the few places every soldier frequented. Today, it remains a striking example of military engineering and offers visitors dramatic views of Newport Harbor and the surrounding Fort complex.

South Barracks

The South Barrack once housed the hospital, mess hall, and quartermaster storage. An armory was located at its intersection with the southeast wall. A second story was added in 1906 to expand capacity, but the portion over the southeast wall was damaged by fire in 1947. You can still see remnants of a balcony that once allowed soldiers to access the upper level. A passage through this wall connected to outer defenses and tunnels beyond the main fort.

West Wall

The West Wall was Fort Adams’ primary defense against naval attack. It supported 117 cannons across three levels, capable of unleashing massive firepower on incoming ships. At the far north end, interpretive signs explain how the three tiers worked together for maximum effect. By the early 20th century, much of the space was converted to recreation – down the slope, you’ll find the remains of a historic two-lane bowling alley. Look for the center groove where bowling balls were returned—a rare luxury for stationed soldiers.

Why We Party: Rebuilding the Fort, Block by Block

 
This year’s Block Party isn’t just a good time, it’s a building block for something much bigger.
We’re raising funds to complete the restoration of the Southeast Demibastion, one of Fort Adams’ most iconic and complex structures. After years of heavy lifting (and literal masonry), we’re nearly there – but we need your help to put the final blocks in place.
Our goal: complete the project by Spring 2026 and open this historic stronghold to the public. And to do that, we need to raise $60,000 from this year’s Block Party to help close the gap.
So far, we have secured:
  • $886,086.50 from the State of Rhode Island
  • $280,000 in pending grants from local foundations
  • $75,000 raised through individual supporters like you
Now, the Block Party is stepping up to close the final $1.3 million gap and lay the last stones in this transformational effort.
 
How Far We’ve Come, Block by Block
Since 2019, we’ve been hard at work rebuilding this section of the Fort from the ground up:
  • Rebuilt collapsed arches and structural vaults
  • Removed unstable roofing, prepped and poured new concrete slab
  • Completed extensive masonry repairs on inner and outer walls
  • Installed a new high-performance roofing system
  • Reinstalled historic gun blocks and drainage features
These are some pictures of the work that has been done to date on the Southeast Demibastion

Southeast Demibastion Kitchen

Southeast Demibastion Interior Archway

Southeast Demibastion Roof

Help us finish restoring the Southeast Demibastion

Donate Now
(Registration opens August 11)