International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport

A fascinating museum, regardless of how much you may like tennis. It's housed in a gorgeous building and many of the architectural elements have been retained on the interior which really adds to the feel of the museum. It's not just the International Tennis Hall of Fame; it really is a museum of tennis history, players, and overall culture. There are traditional cases as well as interactive elements and you can easily spend a couple hours here and still not see everything. I found the early tennis history elements particularly interesting (playing in a corset? no thank you!), and I really appreciated the information given on women's history in tennis and efforts to break the color barrier. It really brings you all the way to modern times - 2021 inductees are highlighted, and within the cases, you'll see very recent items and stories. Given that it's not a general sports history museum, they are able to get deep into tennis culture and history, and even the most well-versed tennis aficionado is bound to learn something new. My interest is only casual (a few summers of tennis lessons two decades ago), but I found plenty to be entertained by and feel I gained a new appreciation for the sport.

How do you review a hollowed institution? Let’s go for it. First of all it has a great location on a busy strip. Second of all the staff is exceptional. Special shout out to Julie, the volunteer Director, who answered all of our questions and even gave us helpful restaurant recommendations. Finally, the museum itself is beautiful without being too gaudy. You get the information you need in a concise and interesting manner. If you get a chance, go in the summer whenever their tennis tournament is going on. The vibe is incredible.