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Touro Synagogue honored in 1946....
Touro Synagogue honored in 1946....
Item # 719814
March 09, 1946
THE NEW YORK TIMES, March 9, 1946
* Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island
* Oldest surviving building in United States
* Declared a National Historic Site
Page 15 has one column headings that include: "NATION SETS APART TOURO SYNAGOGUE" "Shrine of Judaism at Newport, Oldest in Country, Designated as a Historic Site" "Relic Of Colonial Beauty" "Clergy of Other Faiths Join in Extolling Memorial to Early Patriots of America" with smaller subheads. Also on the same page is a three column photo with caption: "Newport Synagogue Designated a National Historic Site". First report coverage on declaring the Touro Synagogue the oldest such building still standing in the United States, a National Historic Site. I suspect this is one of the few publications to report this particular event as other titles in our inventory do not.
Other news, sports and advertisements of the day. Complete in 28 pages, nice condition.
AI notes: In 1946, Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island—the oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States—was officially designated a National Historic Site by the U.S. Department of the Interior. This designation, made under the Historic Sites Act of 1935, was the result of a cooperative agreement between the federal government, Congregation Shearith Israel (the synagogue’s legal trustee), and Congregation Jeshuat Israel (its local caretakers). Rather than transferring ownership to the government, the designation recognized Touro's exceptional historical and architectural significance, particularly as a symbol of America’s foundational commitment to religious freedom. The National Park Service (NPS) provided technical expertise to preserve and interpret the site, helping maintain its original 18th-century character while promoting public understanding of its legacy. Central to its national importance was the 1790 letter from President George Washington, promising religious liberty to the “Children of the Stock of Abraham,” making Touro not only a sacred place of worship but also a living monument to the First Amendment’s promise.
Category: The 20th Century
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