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The architectural heritage of Newport, Rhode Island encompasses the rich and lively history of the people who have lived there. The city's public and private buildings reflect the varied attitudes, styles and tastes adopted by the American nation, from the colonial settlers in the seventeenth century who sought religious and political freedom to the socialite robber barons of the late nineteenth century whose enormous wealth bought the freedom to pursue life's pleasures. Simple clapboard houses and religious buildings exist in he same context as the opulent summer cottages and mansions, built with the finest materials available. Newport architecture presents a splendidly diverse picture of American building at its best.

Internationally acclaimed photographer Roberto Schezen records the great range of Newport buildings. Focusing especially on the outstanding private houses and compounds throughout the city, Schezen's keen eye captures the magnificent decorative details, grand interiors and dramatic settings that give Newport an unsurpassed position as a national architectural treasure. The many styles that are part of the American architectural vocabulary are presented, including the Greek Revival, the Stick and Shingles Styles, and the eclectic ostentation that characterized the so-called Gilded Age.

The accompanying text tells the stories behind the numerous residences and public buildings, shedding light on the personalities behind the construction of landmarks such as the Breakers, Marble House, Touro Synagogue, the Quaker Meeting House, the Newport Casino and the Redwood Library. The celebrated and the famous contributed to Newport's growth, from its early days as a trading center to its development as a major summer resort colony to its most recent incarnation as a model for preservation efforts. Newport Houses, for the first time, brings the whole story together in an intriguing and comprehensive fashion.