New Sailing Museum in Newport

June 7, 2022

The Sailing Museum, Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island, the sailing capital of the United States, opened its first one-of-a-kind, interactive museum designed to share its beloved sport with the world this spring.

The Sailing Museum opened its doors May 2022 to the delight of sailors and non-sailors alike.

The museum’s 8,000 + square feet of exhibits chronicle the history of sailing as a sport, along with galleries that honor the America’s Cup Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious sailing races in the world, and the National Sailing Hall of Fame.

“The museum is a cultural and educational destination that is directly tied to the identity and heritage of the Ocean State,” said Heather Rustam, Executive Director of The Sailing Museum. “It’s part of who we are in Rhode Island, and across the country.”

By showcasing the people who make the sport shine, including designers, shipbuilders, historians, Olympians, sailmakers and champions, the Museum offers visitors a window into the most exciting personalities in sailing.

Visitors experience high-tech exhibits with built-in learning in a welcoming and inclusive environment. They can take a fun quiz to find the best boat that suits their personality, create an avatar to customize their museum experience, design a boat, try steering with both tiller and wheel, work together with other visitors to “sail” a boat –and even design a burgee (flag) they can take home.

The museum has entertaining and interactive stations that focus on all elements of sailing, with the exhibit hall divided into six thematic areas:

Wind and Water
The Making of a Sailor: Mental
The Making of a Sailor: Physical
Teamwork
Competition
Legends of Sailing.

This Visitors can experience what it’s like to fly over the water in the virtual reality dome or test their strength against the pros on the grinders. And they can experience the magic that happens when wind and water meet.

By encouraging visitors to learn about the sport and providing them with a variety of resources, the new Sailing Museum can begin or deepen a lifelong love of sailing.

With its ocean breezes, beautiful coastline and magnificent sights, Newport, Rhode Island is the perfect place to learn about sailing and its impact on the people and culture of this community and around the world.