Looking at them, you may think "castle", maybe even "bridge", but the original concept of the century-old landmark along Narragansett's seawall was "gateway". The architect saw the Towers in Narragansett as the gateway to the playground of the rich -- casinos, polo fields, tennis courts, sandy beaches, gourmet restaurants, and palatial hotels.

After the fire. Partially restored in the 1950's Peter Borgemeister restoring the 20-foot deck. Details of the modern renovation Liz Collins Fashion on the Runway

That was in the days that the trains from New York and Boston would bring masses of vacationers to Narragansett Pier. Many would continue on by steamboat and ferry to Newport, to the mansions of Rosecliff and Rough Point, to the galas of the Vanderbilts and the Gilded Age rich. But most vacationers stopped at Narragansett, filling the beaches and fishing piers, the race tracks and the restaurants.

The Towers were designed by architects McKim, Mead, and White as an elevated walkway, a place for gentlemen to smoke in the cool ocean breeze while admiring the waves, before returning to the gaming tables. The casino it serviced encircled grass-topped tennis courts.

Then, in 1900, a fire in the Rockingham hotel jumped the street and burned the casino to the ground. Only the stone of the towers remained.

A new casino was built in 1905, and the Towers were renovated by 1910, but the glory of Narragansett Pier faded and never recovered. Over the years, the grand houses and hotels that lined the seawall, jostling each other for the best views of the Atlantic decayed and fell apart. Some burned, some were scavenged for stone, and most simply rotted until they were demolished to make room for modest homes and businesses.

The Towers survived epic hurricanes, but was devastated by a second fire in 1965.

With a neglected and ruined landmark on their hands, the town of Narragansett had to make a hard decision -- tear it down, or restore it to some use for the community. For a while, they considered uses like town or school offices, but eventually a renovation committee decided upon turning it into a space for functions -- an elegant space for weddings and parties, one that evokes the glamour and splendor of the past.

The newly restored Towers is heated and enclosed, allowing it to be used for concerts and dances and business meetings year-round. The fire-scorched beams that survived the 1965 fire stand strong overhead, with the ceiling soaring above. An elevator provides easy access, and a few smaller rooms help support the functions in the main bone-shaped room.

Even the porch overlooking the ocean has been restored.

The Towers now has an active life of hosting functions. Some of the functions are simple local community functions, some are private events like political fundraisers and weddings, Kate Vivian and the staff at the Towers fill the schedule with concerts and other events to entertain and involve both tourists and local residents.

One recent event was the Runway show of Liz Collins fashions. This New York/Paris styled show brought ten professional models, a slew of support personnel and dozens of vivid and lively fashions for wine-sipping fashion lovers to admire.

Jazz/blues musician Duke Robbilard's appearance in the Towers filled the main room to its 300-person capacity. Other events include chamber orchestras and dinner theaters -- even Easter sunrise services.

With its majestic views, history, and lively attractions, the Narragansett Towers are again attracting day trippers from New York and Boston, vacationers from land-locked states, and people from all over who want to live a carefree life of elegance.

To book the Towers for a wedding reception, business meeting, or other event, contact Kate Vivian at 401-782-2597 or visit their website online at www.TheTowersRI.com