Designed in 1862 by famed architect Richard Morris Hunt, it was completed in 1864 for John N.A. Griswold, a China Trade merchant and financier. Griswold House was Hunt’s first major commission in Newport and is the premier example of American Stick Style architecture. Hunt went on to design many of the grand cottages of Newport’s Gilded Age, including The Breakers, Marble House, and Ochre Court.

The Griswold House currently houses restored rooms, galleries, a children’s art classroom, administrative offices, a lecture hall, and the Griffon Shop. The surrounding park and sculpture garden is used for many outdoor programs during the summer months.

The Museum’s collections and exhibitions focus on the visual artists of Newport and southeastern New England, reflecting both the rich heritage of the past and the lively art scene of the present. The collections feature works by Fitz Henry Lane, George Inness, William Trost Richards, John Fredrick Kensett, John La Farge, Gilbert Stuart, Helene Sturtevant, and Catharine Morris Wright. Contemporary artists represented in the collection include Dale Chihuly, Howard Ben Tre, Robert Hamita, James Baker, and Joseph Norman.

The Museum organizes special exhibitions drawn from the permanent collection, the holdings of other museums and private collections. These exhibitions bring to Newport a wide variety of themes and styles, often accompanied by special programs. The Museum provides local and regional artists with opportunities to exhibit their works in the Newport Annual, and various other venues throughout the year.