Plaque on the Touro Synagogue in inscribed:
National Historic Site - Touro Synagogue of Jeshuat Israel Congregation founded 1658 -
This oldest synagogue building in the United States was designed by Peter Harrison. 
Ground was broken August 1, 1759.   It was dedicated on December 2, 1763.  Here 1781-84 the
Rhode Island General Assembly met, and during Washington's visit to Newport in 1781 a town
meeting was held here.  The State Supreme Court held sessions here at that period.  The
building was reopened for religious services on August 2, 1850.  In 1790 George Washington
wrote to this congregation that..."happily the Government of the United States...gives
to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." - National Park Service -
United States Department of the Interior