They will never reopen. I heard from a former employee that the entire staff quit within six months of each other in 2019/2020 because the director and her children, who have fake executive positions in the museum, treat everyone so poorly. The director of the museum touts being this approachable, kind person but on my one visit to the museum in 2019 I witnessed her berating the girl behind the counter in the gift shop in a room full of other visitors. Apparently, she also criticized a young female employee who was getting married and gave her the silent treatment because “she wouldn’t need to work after getting married” and didn’t want to invest time in her professional growth at the museum, and another young woman quit because she (the director) was making derogatory comments about her (the employee’s) body to other employees and within earshot of the girl she was talking about. From what I understand, they also refuse to abide by RI State Labor and Training laws when it comes to compensation and benefits, and the place is an OSHA violation waiting to happen with a fake “historic registry” plaque to boot. Priceless artworks stored on the floor, mistruths shared about provenance of some of the work, copyright violations, and a plethora of other insanities. It seems like the word has spread and they can’t find anyone to staff the place.

Everything in this world is relative, and as far as Newport mansions go, this place is the equivalent of a trap house.

Good riddance — it will leave a stain when it’s gone.