Travers Block, 166-184 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Newport County, RI

Significance: The Travers Block was built in 1870-1871 for William R. Travers and was designed by Richard Morris Hunt. It is significant as one of four buildings that comprise a distinguished commercial street, the east side of Bellevue Avenue beginning with this building and running south. The next building, and the next in date, is the Newport Casino. The largest of the four, and historically the best known, it was not only a commercial building but a social center for the summer colony as well. Built in 1880-1881, it is a well known example of the Shingle Style work of the architects McKim, Mead, and White. The third building in the group is the King Block, designed by the Boston architects Perkins and Betton, and built in 1892-1893. The Audrain Building, built 1902-1903, Bruce Price, architect, is the southern anchor of the group. The four buildings maintain a long street line and are basically related in scale and massing. They are also related in their use of broken silhouettes and richly textured surfaces, which at the same time allow great variety and liveliness. Without matching, the building compliment each other in a particularly urbane way and form an ensemble which should be preserved.
Survey number: HABS RI-330
Building/structure dates: 1871 Initial Construction