Newport · Waterfront & Washington Square
The Jailhouse Inn
Newport's colonial jail, where a jailed mason pried out bricks to escape in 1859–60, the inn says; police headquarters until 1986.
- Built
- 1772Built 1772 by George Lawton and Oliver Ring Warner, replacing a 1680 jail; enlarged 1800 and renovated 1888 by Dudley Newton (inn, citing the Newport Historical Society). The NHL district inventory dates the Newport County Jail 'ca. 1722'.
- Architect
- Dudley Newton (1888 renovation)
- Type
- Inn
- Area
- Waterfront & Washington Square
- Credentials
- Inside a National Register historic district; National Historic Landmark
The story
The colonial jail was built in 1772, replacing an earlier jail of 1680 on the same lot, and was enlarged in 1800 and renovated by architect Dudley Newton in 1888. In the winter of 1859-60 a jailed mason pried out bricks and escaped, only to be tracked through fresh snow to the Ocean House hotel. The building served as Newport Police headquarters until 1986, when it was converted into the Jailhouse Inn.
The ghost story
Lore holds that some of the old jail's inmates never left: The Week's October 2025 roundup of haunted U.S. hotels says rumor has it some souls haunt the rooms that were once cells in the 1772 Newport jail, and Discover Newport reposted the piece.
Source: theweek.com
Good to know
- Address: 13 Marlborough Street, Newport, RI 02840
Things to do
Tours in Newport
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Sources (2)
Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.