The Museum

Founded in 2014 in Newport, Rhode Island with a mission of "Preserving, Celebrating & Sharing Automotive History," the Audrain Automobile Museum connects and engages with other local non-profits and the greater Aquidneck Island community.

The historic Audrain Building was transformed into a captivating exhibition space, fit specifically for our cultural needs. The museum, with access to collections containing over 400 cars and motorcycles ranging from brass era Veteran cars to Supercars of today, displays four unique, imaginatively curated thematic exhibitions each year, to entertain all generations and stylistic preferences.

America’s love affair with automobiles is intrinsic, and Newport’s place in the history of the automobile is essential. The museum supports and educates the Aquidneck Island community through programs and car events, including the Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week, "A Celebration of History, Luxury, & Sport," held each year in early October.

As the Audrain Automobile Museum continues to grow, so does its status as a must-stop destination for both car enthusiasts and Newport visitors alike.

Community Outreach

The Audrain Automobile Museum is committed to partnering with other local non-profit organizations to better the Aquidneck Island community. The museum’s past and current charitable partners include, among others: The Newport Preservation Society, Newport Historical Society, Redwood Library & Athenaeum, Norman Bird Sanctuary, Newport Art Museum, Boys & Girls Club of Newport County & Providence, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Edward King House Senior Center, NewportFilm, Salve Regina University, Roger Williams University, Saint Michael’s Country Day School, Saint George’s School, Newport Hospital, and the American Heart Association.

The museum has cross-promoted exhibits with the Redwood Library & Athenaeum, sponsored ‘High Heels & Hot Wheels’ with the Newport Hospital, and worked closely with the Newport Preservation Society, Fort Adams State Park, and Salve Regina University for ‘Cars & Coffee’ and other events.

The museum has also created an internship program, which allows students from Newport Area Career & Technical Center’s Automotive Technology program, Salve Regina University, Roger Williams University, Saint Michael’s Country Day School and Saint George’s School to get involved with the non-profit community. The museum also promotes educational events, partnering with local summer camps and elementary schools for field trips and guided tours of the museum.

As a proud member of the car show community, the museum sends cars to and stages exhibits at events across the country and world, including: Northeast International Auto Show, British Motorcar Festival, Portsmouth Abby Car Show, Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, New England International Auto Show, and Northeast International Auto Show.

Audrain History

A primary goal of the Audrain Automobile Museum has always been to acquire and preserve automobiles with historical significance to Newport. Lacking a suitable space, the Museum’s Founders sought to find a proper home for some of Newport’s most historically important automobiles. Defunct and outdated, the historic Audrain Building presented a perfect solution: a home for the museum and an opportunity to restore and preserve a key piece of architectural history.

Designed for Adolphe Audrain by noted New York architect Bruce Price in 1902, the Audrain Building represents one of the four Gilded Age buildings that form an architecturally significant block on Bellevue Avenue. Price drew inspiration from the Florentine Renaissance to create an iconic two-story edifice defined by broad arched windows and a roofline distinguished by polychromed terra-cotta ornament, crowned with a roof balustrade with lion finials. The first floor was originally designed to feature six retail shops and the second floor accommodated eleven offices. The hurricane of 1938 damaged the balustrade and lion sculptures, warranting their removal. By the early 21st century, the building was in desperate need of restoration.