The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center has been a hub of activity for nearly 100 years. Founded in 1922 by a group of trustees of the Newport Historical Society, the Center was originally known as the Newport Community Center. In June of 1968, the Center was renamed in honor of Dr. King in order to recognize and honor his legacy. Since its incorporation, the Center has served as a gathering place for people of all communities and cultures. From its original location in the Great Friends Meeting House on the corner of Marlborough and Farewell Streets, the Center has moved to its current home in the former Navy USO building in Newport’s Washington Square neighborhood. For nearly a century, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center has been a source of recreation, connection, and inspiration for people of all backgrounds. The Center was originally established in 1922 as the Newport Community Center, and provided recreational activities for the town’s residents. The founders, a group of trustees of the Newport Historical Society, wanted to breathe new life into the Great Friends Meeting House, while honoring the legacy of its founders. In June of 1968, the Center was renamed in honor of Dr. King, and the Center moved to the former Navy USO building in Newport’s Washington Square neighborhood. Since then, the Center has been a place of connection and celebration for people from all walks of life.