Edward King House

The Edward King House, is a monumentally scaled residence at 35 King street in Newport, Rhode Island. It was designed for Edward King in the "Italian Villa" style by Richard Upjohn and was built between 1845 and 1847, making it one of the earliest representations of the style. It was the largest and grandest house in Newport when it was built. Edward King was the largest landowner in town by 1860, having made his fortune through the China Trade.[4]

Engraving of Upjohn's design from Andrew J. Downing's The Architecture of County Houses.
Edward King House
Front elevation and south profile, 2008
Location35 King Street
Newport, Rhode Island
Coordinates41°28′55.49″N 71°18′39.13″W
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1845-47[1]
ArchitectRichard Upjohn[2]
Architectural style"Italian Villa"/Italianate
NRHP reference No.70000024[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1970[1]
Designated NHLDecember 30, 1970[3]

The house is built in brick, has asymmetrical massing, arched window heads, and a prominent three story tower. It was Upjohn's first use of the "Italian Villa" style.[5] These elements would later come to be considered typical features of Italianate design.[1] The house was featured in Andrew Jackson Downing's The Architecture of Country Houses in 1850, including an engraving of the house and architectural plans. Downing described the house as "one of the most successful specimens of the Italian style in the United States." He went on to note the great variety of window sizes and types and noted the harmony of the design.[6]

The Edward King House was donated to the city of Newport in 1912 by Edward King's son and subsequently housed the Newport Public Library. It is now a senior citizens' center, The Newport Senior Center at the Edward King House. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on 15 October 1970[1] and designated as a National Historic Landmark on 30 December 1970.[3] It has a notable Southern counterpart in Kenworthy Hall, designed by Upjohn a decade later. That house is also a National Historic Landmark.[7]


See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Rhode Island: Newport County". "Nationalhistoricalregister.com". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  3. "Edward King House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  4. "History". Edward King House official website. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  5. Whiffen, Marcus; Koeper, Frederick (1984). American Architecture 1607-1860. Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-73069-3.
  6. Downing, Andrew Jackson; Anderson, Alexander (1850). The Architecture of Country Houses Including Designs for Cottages, Farm Houses, and Villas, with Remarks on Interiors, Furniture, and the Best Modes of Warming and Ventilating.. New York: D. Appleton & Co. ISBN 0-486-22003-6.
  7. "Kenworthy Hall". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2009-03-01. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
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