Wanton–Lyman–Hazard House, Newport

Located within the downtown section of the Newport Historic District, the Wanton–Lyman–Hazard House stands as a cherished testament to centuries of history. Built around 1697, it proudly wears the mantle of being the oldest house in Newport and one of the state's most ancient structures. With its rich and storied past, this house has etched itself into the annals of Rhode Island's history.

The house even bears the scars of history. During the Stamp Act riots in 1765, when it was occupied by a Tory Stampmaster, the house suffered damage as a result of the turmoil and unrest. T

The house, which has passed through several hands since its construction, has seen its share of renovations and improvements. While the namesake of the house refers to three members of a family related by marriage who owned it from just before the Revolution until 1911, the house's story extends beyond these individuals. Its history is a tapestry woven by the lives of all its occupants over the years. Since the 1920s, the Wanton–Lyman–Hazard House has been under the stewardship of the Newport Historical Society (NHS).

The story of this house begins with merchant Stephen Mumford, who constructed it in the late 17th century. It started as a simple two-story structure, with one room on either side of a central chimney—a reflection of the modesty and functionality of that era.

Over the years, the house went through various phases of transformation. A lean-to-styled kitchen was added to the north side before 1725, and Loyalist lawyer Martin Howard, Jr. contributed to the house's elegance by adorning it with molding and paneling.

Today, the house stands as a quintessential example of colonial architecture, a five-bay wooden clapboard structure with a steeply pitched roof that gracefully slopes towards the rear. Its façade is painted in a rich historic shade of dark red, with a pristine white door and entryway, framed by pilasters and crowned with a small pediment.