Surprise Valley Farm, Swiss Village (SVF Foundation) (Newport, Rhode Island)

 farm, place with historical importance, lab, interesting place

The main campus was formerly Arthur Curtiss James’ (heir to the Phelps, Dodge mining-and-railroad fortune), Surprise Valley Farm (or Swiss Village to the locals). The 14 buildings that make up the SVF site include exquisitely renovated animal facilities, a procedures laboratory, an infirmary, workshops, offices and a large conference room.

In 1909, Arthur Curtiss James purchased Beacon Hill, the former Glover estate. He gradually acquired surrounding property until the estate consisted of 125 acres, including the old manor house formally known as Edgehill.

Swiss Village, built in 1916 by Arthur Curtiss James, was modeled after a village from the Italian region of Switzerland. The renovation of Swiss Village was completed in 2002, at which time SVF Foundation commenced operations.

The SVF Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to preserve rare breeds of livestock. It is the only private organization in the United States that preserves rare livestock by gathering and storing both semen and embryos of the animals in its collection, a technique called cryopreservation. [ funded by Dorrance H. (Dodo) Hamilton, Philadelphia, PA. and overseen/operated by Tufts University ]

Open to the public one day a year. (date varies, see website)

svffoundation.org/about/about-swiss-village.html

Bing view - binged.it/wRKvZp

read - Jurassic Park on Ocean Drive - www.providencephoenix.com/features/top/multi/documents/...