ITHF recognized with prestigious with Rhody Award for Historic Preservation
Above: ITHF CEO Todd Martin, Curator Nicole Markham, Librarian Meredith Richard, and Museum Director Doug Stark accepted the award.
In recognition of efforts to preserve the National Historic Landmark property that houses the the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the organization has recently been awarded a prestigious Rhody Award for historic preservation.
The Rhody Awards, chosen by Preserve Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission from nominations by the public, honor individuals, organizations, and projects for their contributions to the preservation of Rhode Island’s historic places.
The Hall of Fame is set on the property of the Newport Casino, originally constructed in 1880 as a the premier setting for sport and socializing in Gilded Age Newport. Opened in 1880, the Newport Casino was the premier setting for sport and socializing in Gilded Age Newport. Designed by McKim, Mead & White, its campus featured shops, dining, lodging, and leisure activities. The first U.S. Nationals was hosted at the Casino, the tournament now known as the US Open. By the early 1950s, the Casino’s future was in doubt, but Casino president Jimmy Van Alen proposed a new vision for the property. As home to the newly-established National Lawn Tennis Hall of Fame (1954), the Casino would become a shrine to tennis, balancing a reverence for history with the urge to stay current.
In the ensuring decades, preservation projects like restoring the Horseshoe Piazza and rehabbing the Casino Theatre have alternated with investments in the athletic facilities, appreciated by professionals and amateurs alike. A strong educational mission drives innovation at the institution such as state-of-the-art exhibits and an array of tennis-based educational programs. The Information Research Center beckons scholars of the game. As steward of the Newport Casino—"the most important item in our collection”—the International Tennis Hall of Fame is a true champion of preservation.
Each year, Preserve Rhode Island partners with the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission to honor the people who make a difference by protecting Rhode Island’s historic places.
