Rhode Island Black Heritage Society
46 Aborn Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-751-3490
Exhibits of Black history and culture, and contribution of Black-Americans to Rhode Island life and history. Open Mon-Fri, 9 am-4:30 pm.
Visit Providence/Warwick, home of colonial history and Victorian architecture
Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame
110 Benevolent Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-277-2669
The Hall of Fame can be found at the Rhode Island Historical Society. On display are portraits and photos of famous Rhode Islanders, including Nelson Eddy, George M. Cohan, and David Hartman.
Roger Williams Landing Place Monument
Gano Street, between Power and Williams Streets Providence, RI
Monument marks where Rhode Island founder Roger Williams first landed in 1636 in what was to become the Ocean State. Williams, exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was welcomed warmly by the natives, and founded Rhode Island to be a colony free of religious persecution. Open dawn to dusk.
Roger Williams National Memorial
282 North Main Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-521-7266
Rhode Island's only National Park on the site of the original Providence colonial settlement. A visitors' center chronicles the life and times of Roger Williams, founder of the state of Rhode Island. Open daily.
St. Mary's Church
70 Church Street West Warwick, RI Phone: 401-821-5555
Rhode Island's oldest Catholic church built circa 1844. Open during services, Sat 4-6 pm, Sunday, 9 am-noon.
State Capitol of Rhode Island
82 Smith Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-277-2357
Self-guided tours can accompany you through the building, completed in 1904. Historic Rhode Island items on display include the original Rhode Island Charter (1663) and a portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, a Rhode Island native. The building's dome is the fourth largest self-supported dome in the world. Guided tours available by appointment only. Open Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-4:30 pm.
Swan Point Cemetery
585 Blackstone Boulevard Providence, RI Phone: 401-272-1314
A historic cemetery with beautiful plantings and monuments. Walking and slow bicycloing allowed. Proper attire requested. Many noted Rhode Island politicians are buried here.
Aldrich House
110 Benevolent Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-331-8575
This Federal style mansion was built in 1822. It is the headquarters for the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Apponaug Village
Route 1 Warwick, RI Toll-Free: 800-4WARWICK
This Historic District was settled in 1696. Apponaug was once a seaport involved in the Triangle Trade. Many 18th and 19th century structures survive, most notably Warwick City Hall, a Victorian-era building with a six-story clock tower. Also within the village are notable churches and the Warwick Museum, which was built in 1912 and originally was the home of the Kentish Artillery Armory. A book, The Walking Tour of Historic Apponaug Village, is available free by calling the telephone number above.
Arcade Building
65 Weybosset Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-598-1199
Although this building now houses what seems to be a typical American shopping mall, it was built in 1828, and is the last remaining structure of its kind: an early 19th century indoor marketplace. Open: Mon-Sat, 10 am-6 pm, Holidays Mon-Fri, 10 am-7 pm, Sat, 10 am-6 pm
Bayard-Ewing Building
231 South Main Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-454-6280
Brick structured building built in 1848. It was renovated in 1977 by the Rhode Island School of Design after years of use as an urban industrial center. The building is now the site for the School of Design's changing exhibits and lectures, open to the public all year long.
Beneficent Congregational Church
300 Weybosset Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-454-6280
Built in 1810, the plans for this church actually were drawn up in Ireland and brought over by Reverend James "Paddy" Wilson. This church is one of the earliest examples of classical architecture surviving in the U.S. today. Open: Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Benefit Street's Mile of History
Benefit Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-831-7440
A restored street of colonial homes and buildings, including churches and museums, that overlooks the Providence waterfront. Both walking and bus tours through the Providence Preservation Society are available during the week.
Brick School House
24 Meeting Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-831-7440
Although closed to the public, visitors can stroll by this early colonial public school, which was the site of Brown University classes during the Revolution.
Brown University
45 Prospect Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-863-2378
One of the Ivy League universities, Brown was founded in 1764. The campus houses several historic buildings and sites, most of which are still in use today. Regular tours available Monday-Saturday. The campus and neighborhood provide ample opportunity for both long and short walks. The university can information concerning the myriad of historic buildings.
Cathedral of Saint John
271 North Main Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-331-4622
This colonial parish was established in 1722, one of the four original parishes in the state. The church contains antique communion silver and pew boxes, and is the site of many historic grave sites. Open: Mon-Fri, 9 am-4 pm; Sun, 8:30-11:30 am.
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Cathedral Square Providence, RI Phone: 401-331-2434
Originally built in 1889 on the site of the first Roman Catholic church in Providence, established in 1838. The site features a Cassavant organ with 6,330 pipes and European stained-glass windows. Open: Mon-Sat, 7 am-5 pm, Sundays, 8 am-8 pm.
Clemence-Irons House
38 George Waterman Road Johnston, RI Phone: 401-728-9696
Open seasonally. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for hours and admission.
Built by Richard Clemence in 1691, the house is a rare surviving example of a stone-ender, a once common building type. Passing through a series of owners, in the 18th through 20th centuries, the house had grown to 13 rooms when it was purchased by the Sharpe family.in 1938, which commissioned Norman Isham to restore it. Isham also commissioned furnishings made from old wood to complement the architectural reconstruction.
Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum
4157 Post Road Warwick, RI Phone: 401401-884-9490
Tours daily by appointment
Centrally located, the museum is a 27-room granite Gothic Victorian mansion, complete with original furnishings and collections. Annual exhibits include 100 Years of Romance, a collection of wedding gowns and memorabilia for every decade from 1880 through 1980, in February; Gardens in Bloom in June; A Day in the Country, honoring old-time farming, in the fall; and the Christmas display, with 12 rooms decorated for the holidays, in December. Admission: Adults, $12; seniors, $10; college students, $8; youth age 12 and younger, $5. Information: www.cloudshill.org
Dame Farm
29 Brown Avenue Johnston, RI Phone: 401-949-3516
Established in 1789, this working farm is open to the public. The site features farm equipment in use from 1870 to 1915, plus an exhibit on farm history. Walkers will find a well-marked, self-guided nature and hiking trail. Open year-round, dawn to dusk.
Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe Memorial
Brown University College Green Providence, RI
Memorial to the founder of the Perkins Institute for the Blind. Howe also was the chief surgeon to the fleet in the Greek War of Independence; and his wife, Julia Ward Howe, authored the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Open year-round.
Federal Hill
Federal Street and surrounding streets Providence, RI Phone: 401-831-7440
A true example of Providence's old-world roots, with historic buildings and a big splash of the Italian culture that made Providence grow in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy bakeries, shops, and some of the best restaurants in New England.
First Unitarian Church of Providence
Benefit and Benevolent Streets Providence, RI Phone: 401-421-7970
Rich in history, this church was built in 1816, and features a steeple bell of note: It was the largest and heaviest bell cast by Paul Revere and Son. Services 10:30 am every Sunday. Tours by appointment.
General Ambrose E. Burnside Equestrian Statue
East end of Kennedy Plaza Providence, RI
Although a Governor and U.S. Senator from Rhode Island in the 19th century, Burnside was actually born in Indiana. One of Rhode Island's best known heroes from the Civil War, Burnside commanded the Army of the Potomac and led the Rhode Island Volunteers in the defense of Washington during the Civil War. Legend has it that he made the wearing of sideburns popular.
General Nathanael Greene Homestead
50 Taft Street Coventry, RI Phone: 401-821-8630
The home of George Washington's second-in-command, built in 1770. The grounds include a veterans' garden and Revolutionary War cannon. Open seasonally and by appointment.
Governor Henry Lippitt House Museum
199 Hope Street Providence, RI 02906 Phone: 401-453-0688
Open: May-October, Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tours on the hour; last tour at 2 p.m.; tours also by appointment
A Victorian mansion built in 1865, it is a National Historic Landmark. Home of two Rhode Island governors. Intricately decorated and furnished with authentic pieces from the Victorian period. Cost: Adults, $10.
Governor Sprague Mansion
1351 Cranston Street Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: 401-944-9226
Built in 1790, this home was owned by the Sprague family, who produced two Rhode Island governors. The house contains period furniture and artifacts. In the stable house there are carriages, carts, winter sleighs, and a Bicentennial Conestoga wagon. Open year-round by appointment.
Governor Stephen Hopkins House
15 Hopkins St. Providence, RI 02903 Phone: 401-751-1008
Stephen Hopkins, one of two signers of the Declaration of Independence from Rhode Island, purchased this house in 1743. He attached his own two-story house, built with a central hallway and two chimneys. The handsome shell cupboard over the fireplace and the overdoor panels are similar to other pre-Revolutionary houses.
Hours:April to December 1, Wednesday and Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Other hours by appointment.
Hours:April to December 1, Wednesday and Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Other hours by appointment.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Times Square, Corner of Exchange, Goff and Broad Streets Pawtucket, RI Phone: 401-728-0500
Bet you didn't know that Pawtucket has been the site of several films. This is a monument to that accomplishment.
Hudson, Fuller, St. Pierre and Chase Collections of Archaeological Material
Rhode Island College, 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue Providence, RI Phone: 401-274-9774
The entire state of Rhode Island is fertile ground for archaeological study of American colonial and Native American life. These collections are a window on dig details, surface finds and excavated material from various sites throughout the state. Open by appointment only.
Independent Company of Kentish Guards
Pierce Street East Greenwich, RI Phone: 401-884-3183
General Nathanael Greene, Washington's second-in-command during the Revolutionary War, chartered this company in 1774. Open by appointment only.
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-331-8575
A three-story Georgian mansion, built in 1786, the house was ahead of its time in terms of opulence, and typifies the craftsmanship traditionally associated with Rhode Island building and construction in the 18th and 19th centuries. Operated by the Rhode Island Historical Society. Open seasonally, hours vary.
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street Providence, RI 02906 Phone: 401-273-7507
Open: September 5- December 30, Tuesday-Friday, tours at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Saturdays, tours at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m.; January- March, tours at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays only.
One of America's grandest mansions when completed in 1788, the house at 52 Power Street was home first to John Brown, a businessman, patriot, politician, China trade pioneer, and slave trader who participated in the debates and practices that shaped the new nation. Group, school, and special tours are available by appointment. Cost: Adults, $8; seniors and students, $6; children age 7-17, $4.
John Carter Brown Library
Corner of George and Brown streets, Brown University Providence, RI Phone: 401-863-2725
Built in 1904, this structure houses approximately 40,000 volumes, mostly dealing with Americana and American history. It also contains a collection of antique maps from 1477 to the mid-19th century. Open Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-5 pm, Sat, 9 am-noon.
John Hay Library
Prospect and College Streets, Brown University Providence, RI Phone: 401-863-3723
This library is where Brown University keeps its rare book collections, manuscripts, and special archives--including historic documents pertaining to Brown University. The building itself was constructed in 1910. Open Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm.
John Waterman Arnold House
25 Roger Williams Circle Warwick, RI Phone: 401-467-7647
Classic clapboard building, featuring many late 1700s features, including a beehive oven and a winding front stairway, probably a 19th century addition. Serves as home to the Warwick Historical Society. Open Wednesdays 9 am-1 pm.
Joy Homestead
156 Scituate Avenue Cranston, RI 02921 Phone: 401-463-6168
Cobbler and farmer Job Joy built this farmhouse in 1778. It has five rooms filled with antiques from the colonial period. Open by appointment only.
Meeting House of the First Baptist Church in America
75 North Main Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-454-3418
This is the oldest Baptist Church in America, established by Rhode Island founder Roger Williams in 1638. The existing structure was built in 1775, and sports a Waterford crystal chandelier designed and constructed in 1792. Open: Mon-Fri, 9:30 am-3:30 pm. Guided tours are available May-October.
Museum of Rhode Island History
110 Benevolent Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-331-8575
This historic structure was built in 1822, and offers changing exhibits on Rhode Island history and architecture. Headquarters for the Rhode Island Historical Society. Open Tues-Fri, 9 am-5 pm; Sun, 1-4 pm.
Old State House
150 Benefit Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-277-2678
Home to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the Revolutionary War period, built in 1762. The Declaration of Independence was signed here on May 4, 1776, two months before the other colonies. Open Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-4:30 pm.
Original North Providence Town Hall
Mineral Spring Avenue North Providence, RI Phone: 401-232-0900
Also home to the Old North Providence Town Jail. Open by appointment only.
Pawtuxet Village
Narragansett Parkway Warwick, RI Toll-Free: 800-4WARWICK
Settled in 1642 Pawtuxet Village lays claim to being New England's oldest village. This Historic District features many colonial and historic homes along tree-lined streets. During the early years of settlement colonists were beset by Indian attacks. Pawutuxet Village also was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Providence Athenaeum
251 Benefit Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-421-6970
The Athenaeum is one of the oldest libraries in the country, founded in 1753. The building itself was constructed in 1838 in granite Greek Revival style. Still a fully functional subscription library, interesting exhibits of rare and historic books are often found on the site.
Providence Preservation Society
21 Meeting Street Providence, RI Phone: 401-831-7440
This appropriately historic home of the Preservation Society was built in 1772. Open Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm.