Perhaps considered the most iconic mural in the current Downtown portfolio, Gaia's Still Here is a…read moreportrait of a contemporary Narragansett woman named Lynsea Montanari holding a portrait of her tribal elder, Wampanoag and Narangansett leader Princess Red Wing. The location of the 32 Custom House building (and the parking lot that was the former Daniels building) provides a sweeping view of the wall from the Weybosset bridge and river. According to the City Department of Art, Culture & Tourism, "Weybosset Street was a site where three important Indian trails met, one coming down from the north, the second up from the southeast Mount Hope region called the Wampanoag Trail, and the third up from Connecticut in the southwest called the Pequot Trail." Gaia's opening idea for the mural was to consider erasure, considering the landscape that existed before colonial settlement, asking the question of whose history gets recorded and whose doesn't. As he captures in his artist interview (viewable above), through partnership and permission seeking with the Tomaquag Museum, the work evolved into a narrative that captures a living person holding legacy and tradition, advocating for human rights and environmental justice, a people still here across time that continues today. As I volunteer at the Visitor Center, this is one of the public art pieces that most people ask about and it's part of the self guided public arts tour established by the Avenue Concept group.

This sculpture stands in front of a hotel not far from Burnside Park on the west bank of the…read moreProvidence River. It is quite pretty and flowing, suggesting flames or smoke stretching to the sky. It is quite fluid. The 13 foot tall abstract artwork was made in 2017 by artist Paul Machalaba. The online caption indicates that it aluminum. It was installed here in 2018. [Review 15277 overall, 779 of 2021, number 40 in Rhode Island.]

The Spanish-American Veterans Memorial in James Tansey Square is a striking and quietly dignified…read moretribute, perched on a traffic island where Pleasant Street meets Plymouth Avenue in Fall River. Despite its modest footprint, the monument commands attention--a solitary soldier stands atop a granite pedestal, rifle in hand, gazing forward with a posture that suggests both vigilance and reflection. And it looks *exactly* like the one in Providence RI down to the same plaque on the base. The sculpture itself is traditional in style. The soldier's uniform and gear are rendered with care, and while the figure is not oversized, it carries symbolic weight. At the base, a small bronze plaque adds context: "Spanish War Veterans," with the years 1898-1902 and references to the Philippine Islands, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. A small plaque reads, "Erected by the citizens of Fall River, Massachusetts in memory of her sons, who on land and sea served their country in the war with Spain, the Insurrection in the Philippines and the China Relief Expedition. 1898-1902. Dedicated October 30, 1938." [Review 1089 of 2025 - 1239 in Massachusetts - 24643 overall]

To know me is to know the depth of my love and admiration for murals. Everywhere I go, especially…read morevisiting a new city, I look for murals. This one was just as stunning in-person as the photo. Actually, more beautiful to behold standing and staring at it. I researched the story and artist. Loved it all!! Easy to find, a little challenging to photograph, just because it's located inside of a parking lot.

The very large painted mural titled She Never Came distills a story of unrequited love into a…read moresingle moment. When BEZT, the artist, one half of the Polish street art duo ETAM CRU, painted this mural in 2015 it was his largest work to date. Since then, it has become something of a Providence landmark, appearing in countless selfies and Instagrams. Its photorealistic quality evokes BEZT's admiration for Norman Rockwell, while the surrealism of the rat pays homage to the street art tradition of Basquiat. This calm, quiet moment is a stark juxtaposition to the busy streetscape around it, inviting passersby to pause and reflect on its beauty. If you look closely, you can create a story in your own head about what is happening here.... A young man hunches over a table. He wears a purple short-sleeve button down shirt with a pattern of petite pineapples and triangles of sliced pink watermelon. The table wears a cloth covered with a pattern of pink and teal diamonds. He burrows his chin into the crook of his bent left elbow while gazing towards his outstretched right arm, at a golden ring with an emerald jewel he's tossed slightly in the air. A rat with a dark grey coat and a tiny crown above his head sits, engaged, on the man's left shoulder just behind his ear, also gazing at the ring. The work of art is about four stories tall and covers the entire width of the building, about 100 feet long. It's a favorite piece during art walks and city tours in Providence.

This beautiful artwork stands at the top of the hill that is King Street in East Greenwich. It is…read morequite striking, a four-way Mobius strip made from stainless steel. The artist is Peter Diepenbrock. In the late evening hours, it was very nice but seeing it in daylight from the artist's page, wow. I'll be looking for more of this artist in my travels. If you're in East Greenwich, stop by and check it out. [Review 15297 overall, 799 of 2021, number 58 in Rhode Island.]

Coming from Aquidneck island, we drove over the Mount Hope Bridge to get to Warren…read more The bridge opened in 1929, so it's been around for a long time. It underwent more than $15 million in renovations between 1998 and 2004. Still today, it needs lots of maintenance and repair. It is in working order, but hopefully it will stay active with the proper care.

The history presented is very interesting. We didn't realize General Washington and many other…read moreprominent historical figures crossed to Aquidneck Island from this spot. The history display is presented chronologically and provides some interesting details. Cost: FREE! Time budget: 10 minutes

It has been over forty years since a terror attack on a U.S. military facility in Beirut killed 241…read moreservice members. The single deadliest day for U. S. Marines since Iwo Jima in 1945. Nine Rhode Islanders were in those numbers. This memorial, located along the greenway between Dyer St. and the river, was originally dedicated September 2020. An etched photo of each Marine plus a bit of personal information on a plaque below the photo line the memorial. Where was he born? What was he interested in? Who is his family? There are also a couple of info kiosks with details of the events of October 23, 1983 that lead to their deaths. We, as citizens of the U.S., owe these young men, and many, many more like them, who volunteered to protect, our respect. These young men made the ultimate sacrifice. As too many before and after have done. Take a walk through. Look at their photos. Read a bit about who they are and give thanks for their courage and willingness to defend democracy. I don't mean to wax poetic. I believe any young person who willingly enlists in military service deserves respect and honor. This memorial gives a small glimpse into just nine of the lives given.

This memorial by the river is another peaceful, nice reminder of those who gave their lives for our…read morecountry. There are no benches to sit, but a nice paved stone walk that takes you through the history and the description of what happened in Beirut that faithful day. The memorial honors the nine Rhode Island Marines who lost their lives during the Marine Barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon October 23, 1983. The attack on the Marine barracks killed 241 U.S. Marines, Sailors and Soldiers who were deployed to Lebanon as part of a multinational peacekeeping mission during the Lebanese Civil War, this memorial focuses on the nine who were from our State of Rhode Island

The oldest of…read morethe old King Philip's War was a nasty affair with atrocities and lots of horrible things occurring on both the Native American and English sides. Towns were burned and people murdered. No quarter was asked and none was given. One particularly brutal incident was called Nine Men's Misery. It started on March 20, 1676, when Capt Piece of the colonists let a group of troops after what was left of the Narragansett Tribe. The troops got a bit too over confident and walked right into an ambush and were slaughtered by the Narragansetts. Virtually all of the troops were killed but nine managed to survive the battle and were captured, tortured and then killed. Not exactly unexpected considering what the English were doing to the Narragansetts. Most of their villages were burned and the women and children executed . When other English troops found the bodies of the dead captives. they immediately buried the bodies and put up a monument site of rocks over the graves so the memory of the incident would never be forgotten. The pile of rocks have been tended to ever since and is now considered the oldest veterans memorial in the country. It's not exactly an exciting or aesthetically stunning memorial but it an extremely spooky and fascinating place to hike out and actually find. The area has lots of cool hiking trails besides the one leading to the memorial but the bugs are incredibly bad in these woods. Lovely stone walls and beautiful trees, this would probably be a great place for a winter or fall hike. A thoughtful place to reflect and remember what it was like back then during these horrible wars. Right and wrong, good and evil are just words. Pain, death and suffering was the reality.

This place holds a special place in my heart. My father and I used to walk here when I was young.read more