100 Facts About Seamen’s

Each year from as far back as we can remember, Seamen’s has served a traditional home-cooked Thanksgiving Day Dinner and Christmas Day Brunch. About 150 people from all walks of life attend.
Seamen’s is the only warming center in the state to stay open overnight in dangerous winter weather conditions. In 2018 we stayed open for 11 nights and provided shelter for 145 individuals.
Seamen’s has coin-op laundry facilities open to the public.
Sailors can have their mail and packages delivered to Seamen’s for pick up when they’re in town. A public computer and printer in the lounge keep guests and visitors connected away from home and free wifi is available throughout our building.
Seamen’s volunteers cook a delicious and nutritious meal for the community every 3rd Wednesday. Organic meat is generously donated by our friends at Windmere Farm in Jamestown.
Seamen’s was once home to Newport’s Ham Radio Club.
Seamen’s third floor Crow’s Nest lodging was once dormitory style for sea captains, navy sailors and merchant marines. Today it has 10 simply appointed rooms open to the public with special rates for mariners and maritime students.
Seamen’s provides meeting space for maritime related groups such as Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Newport Maritime Alliance and North Sails.
AA groups meet every morning and evening in Seamen’s maritime library. Longtime members report that there’s something particularly special about this place and these meetings.
Seamen’s hosts a maritime themed lecture series featuring dynamic speakers and engaging topics year-round. Past speakers have included Newport photographer Onne van der Wal, Dean of URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, Bruce Corliss and Newport Shipyard owner, Charlie Dana.
The Chapel of the Sea has hosted hundreds of ceremonies over the years, including weddings, baptisms and memorial services. The frescoed walls depicting images of the sea are Newport native Durr Freedley’s largest artwork, completed in 1933.
For over 20 years, volunteers served hot soup prepared in Seamen’s kitchen to fishermen and dockworkers at Newport’s many fishing piers. With only the state pier left and a few fishing boats still docking in Newport, the program was discontinued in 2016.
Seamen’s has hot showers available daily 7am-9am.
Every year Seamen’s works with the Rhode Island Wind Ensemble to provide a free concert for the community at the Newport Marriott during Newport’s Winterfest.
With the help of donors, Seamen’s provides warm winter coats, hats and gloves for overnight warming center guests.
Seamen’s garden has been touted as a well-kept secret – a shaded, quiet place to enjoy a cup of coffee and escape the hubbub of the waterfront in summer!
Up until 2002, Seamen’s Superintendents (Executive Director) had always been Episcopalian priests who lived on site and provided spiritual care for residents living in the building.
Seamen’s stately yet cozy library is open to the public and contains thousands of maritime-themed books donated by residents and visitors through the years.
The east side of Seamen’s 2nd floor, now home to the Discovery Deck marine industry exhibit, has had a variety of tenants through the years including a whaling museum, Save the Bay field classroom, Sailors for the Sea, Confident Captain and Bike Newport.
During the Christmas season, Seamen’s hosts free events for the community every weekend – the Salve Regina madrigal choir, Emmanuel Church handbell choir, community tree decorating with Santa, making cards for mariners and holiday workshops in the Discovery Deck.
In the early days, Seamen’s café area was a sundry shop where residents of Seamen’s and visitors could cash checks, purchase snacks and toiletries and store passports and valuables.
Seamen’s Discovery Deck is available for field trips for middle schools across the state. In December 2018, with the help of grants, all Newport middle school students visited for free!
Seamen’s is a favorite meeting place for local groups like Bowen’s Wharf Co and Newport Biodiesel.
Seamen’s is proud to have a diverse group of Newport residents on its Board of Directors to represent the community and advise the operations and mission of the organization. Their backgrounds include law, the Navy, shipping, insurance, religion, business development, education, finance, research and banking.