Touro Synagogue is the oldest extant synagogue in ...

Touro Synagogue is the oldest extant synagogue in the United States. It wasn't the first, but it's the oldest one that's still around. It's technically part of the National Park Service as a National Historic Site, but it does not receive any funding from the NPS system. For those interested, you can receive a National Park cancellation stamp from the staff at the Loeb Visitor Center, but you'll have to ask for it.

The synagogue itself is very beautiful, and was built in a colonial style. There is an active congregation that still worships here, so accessing the synagogue in a tourist capacity is limited. In January-April, for example, the synagogue is open from 1100-1330 on Sundays only. The normal cost for a ticket is $12 per adult, but there are discounts for seniors, military, students, National Park passport holders, and National Trust members. Children under 12 and Newport residents have free admission.

You cannot purchase your tickets for the tour ahead of time; they must be purchased in-person at the Loeb Visitor Center (which also functions as a museum), which is right next to the synagogue. The only way to access the synagogue (bar being a Jewish worshipper attending the services) is to go on one of the tours.

There is a lot of American history related to this one small synagogue, and today, it's remains a monument to tolerance, respect, and the freedom of religion.