The International Yacht Restoration School
The International Yacht Restoration School
While you are enjoying your day in Newport you may be very interested to find that The International Yacht Restoration School is a great stop to add to your itinerary. Did you know that Newport has been the yacht capital of the world since the 1800's? Thousands of people like to make this one of their stops when touring Newport. All agree the smell of the fresh wood and the spectacular view of the harbor is worth the trip.
Visitors are welcome to tour along the mezzanine and watch as the students restore the old, classic wooden boats and stroll along the stone docks to get closer to inspect the many yachts that are harbored there. There are also many gallery exhibits to see. Currently the 1885 yacht The Coronet, which is America's most historic yacht is being renovated to begin sailing once again as a floating museum. The International Yacht Restoration School is located right in the middle of Newport's historic waterfront. It serves as a fully functioning and accredited school dedicated to teaching the history, preservation, restoring and maintaining of yachts. The teaching of woodwork is of course very important in recreating these treasures.
The campus is located on a 2 acre waterfront site in downtown Newport. Classes are held in the historic Restoration Hall, originally built in 1905 as an electric generating station for the Newport Street Railway Company. Another building on the campus was built in 1831 as a steam-powered cotton mill and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Once you visit you will come away with a new appreciation for the art of boat building and how much care and skill is involved in restoring these historical vessels.
