Bus Travel Article

 Prescott Farms

Prescott Farms is a 40 acre farm that features the long history of farming on Aquidneck Island. The farm offers visitors a chance to travel back into the early 18th century for a glimpse of early New England buildings and landscape. Doris Duke, through the Newport Restoration Foundation, purchased the farm with the goal of preserving open space and the Overing House as well as other rural buildings that were in danger of being lost as a result of demolition.

The Prescott Farms feature Colonial farm building, a general store, General Prescott's guard house. The farm site is open to the public and includes several buildings, a pond and several walking trails. Five of the eleven buildings currently on the site have their original foundations. Bring the family out for a day of touring history, or head out to Prescott Farms yourself for a day. Among the restored features of Prescott Farms, you'll see one of the most unusual windmills in the area. The smock style mill was originally built in 1812 and has four vanes for sails. General Prescott's guard house is among the buildings open to the public. This house was used by the guards of General Prescott during his occupation of Overing House. The visitor's center at Prescott Farms was known as the Hicks House - Country Store where it is thought to have been used by the ferrymen who operated between ports. The center displays a collection 18th and early 19th century rural oddments.

Prescott Farms also consists of the Sweet House which is a farmhouse with simple interior woodwork. It serves as an example of simple rural island architecture. The Overing House and Potter House also occupy areas on the land of the Prescott Farms but are not available for access by the public as these properties are rented.

Prescott Farms also offers numerous education programs throughout the season. Two of these projects are the Stone Wall Workshop and Garden Talks. More information on the educational programming available at Prescott Farms can be obtained by contacting the Newport Restoration Foundation, 401-849-7300. Guided tours of the Prescott Farms are available from May through October. Prescott Farms is open Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm Although the grounds are accessible for visitors free of charge, tours of the buildings are offered at $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. Prescott Farms offers visitors a chance to see and learn about farming life in the 18th century in New England.