4th Annual French in Newport Weekend

Washington Square. In July 1780, thousands of French troops landed in Newport beginning an occupation that lasted for nearly a year. The presence of this new ally represented a turning point in the American Revolution and the start of the Franco-American Alliance. While French troops played a vital role in American victory at Yorktown in 1781, Newport citizens were far from welcoming upon their arrival. The Newport Historical Society will showcase aspects of this pivotal point in American history during this free two-day event about life in the summer of 1780. (401) 841-8770; www.newporthistory.org.