National Historic Landmark- Isaac Bell Jr., House

Edna Villa, built in 1881-1883 for a Southern cotton broker, marked a turning point for the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White and a milestone in the development of American architecture.

Along with the nearby Newport Casino, this is one of the earliest examples of the Shingle style. This peculiarly American architectural style, a winning combination of Colonial and Queen Anne motifs, is generally clad, as it is here, in shingles of many patterns.

Open, informal plans, expansive verandas, and horizontal outlines characterize the style, which found its perfect expression in large summer cottages such as this.

Courtesy National Park Service National Historic Landmarks

Photograph courtesy Library of Congress Historic American Building Survey