Fort Adams State Park is located at the mouth of Newport Harbor, offering spectacular panoramas of both the harbor and Narragansett Bay. The park is home to Fort Adams, the largest coastal fortification in the United States. The area was originally owned by William Brenton who originally called the region "Hammersmith." The original name, "Hammersmith," survives in the name of the adjacent Hammersmith Farm, home of First Lady Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy. For Adams State Park affords not only wonderful panoramas, but also areas for picnics and other such activities. Annually, the park plays host to the Newport Jazz Festival and the Newport Folk Festival.[1]
Fort Adams is the home of Sail Newport, the Museum of Yachting, Eisenhower House and the Block Island ferry.
Fort Adams has three athletic fields. The Joseph "Jay" Kirwin Memorial Rugby Pitch is home to Newport Rugby Football Club and to the men's and women's rugby teams of Salve Regina University. In addition to the dedicated Kirwin rugby pitch there are two soccer fields/rugby pitches. The annual Newport Rugby Sevens Tournament is held at the fort each summer.
The park is operated by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Parks and Recreation. The park staff also manage nearby Brenton Point State Park. Park rangers are the face of DEM most often seen by the general public, and a large contingent is based out of Fort Adams State Park. They patrol the park and perform various enforcement operations. Richard "Dick" Masse has been the park manager since 1978.[2][3]
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