The International Tennis Hall of Fame occupies the Newport Casino, a rambling Victorian shingle-style complex built in 1880 by Stanford White as a private social club — then, as now, Bellevue Avenue's answer to boredom between mansion visits. The building, with its turrets, wraparound piazzas, and horseshoe court, is one of the finest examples of 19th-century resort architecture in America.
The museum covers the history of lawn tennis from its British origins through the modern game, with particular attention to the Newport connection — the US National Championship was held here from 1881 to 1914. The Hall of Fame inductee galleries are thorough if you have any interest in the sport. More unusually, the grass courts of the Newport Casino are still playable, and visitors can book court time to play on the same grass where the first American champions competed. The grass court tournament held here each summer is the only surviving USTA grass court event outside the US Open.