I can't imagine a time when Providence didn't have this bridge to connect the city like this! It is…read moreso beautiful and I love all the events that they have!

A beautiful addition to the city of Providence! Every time we visit, we would make a stop there…read more This bridge was renamed to the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge in 2020; it opened in August 2019. It was built on existing piers from the old highway, I-95. The bridge goes over the Providence River and connects two neighborhoods, Fox Point and the Jewelry District. There's a park nearby, called District 195; events are hosted at this location. The bridge was beautiful to walk on day and night. There were railings, benches, tables, and chess tables; at night there were LED lights that brighten the area. A wonderful area for walkers and cyclists. The view of the city skyline was breathtaking. One evening we were there, we saw the star-link satellite flying by, it was awesome. The downfall was, this bridge cost the city $21.9 million when the original budget was supposed to be $2 million. People were opposed with building this bridge because RI had the highest amount of bridges with structural issues. In the end, the bridge was built and it's become a popular attraction and landmark.

Benefit Street is a nice little walk and The Shunned House is a sweet little surprise. What I like…read moreabout The Shunned House is that you would have NO CLUE that this house was significant amongst the others in the surrounding areas. The armory down the street stands out a lot more than the lil house that HPLovecraft wrote about. Still it's a great side trip that will only take seconds out of your day if you are in or around the colleges in the area. This is obviously a residence and they have since named the house after someone but you can see the wall that used to be used as the front of the house and the descriptions stand strong in Lovecraft's writing. No big deal but I liked being there and seeing it.

I was going to write about this curiousity, but I realized I couldn't do any better than what…read morebrought me in the first place: "The house was--and for that matter still is--of a kind to attract the attention of the curious. Originally a farm or semi-farm building, it followed the average New England colonial lines of the middle eighteenth century--the prosperous peaked-roof sort, with two stories and dormerless attic, and with the Georgian doorway and interior panelling dictated by the progress of taste at that time. It faced south, with one gable end buried to the lower windows in the eastward rising hill, and the other exposed to the foundations toward the street. Its construction, over a century and a half ago, had followed the grading and straightening of the road in that especial vicinity; for Benefit Street--at first called Back Street--was laid out as a lane winding amongst the graveyards of the first settlers, and straightened only when the removal of the bodies to the North Burial Ground made it decently possible to cut through the old family plots. "At the start, the western wall had lain some twenty feet up a precipitous lawn from the roadway; but a widening of the street at about the time of the Revolution sheared off most of the intervening space, exposing the foundations so that a brick basement wall had to be made, giving the deep cellar a street frontage with door and two windows above ground, close to the new line of public travel. When the sidewalk was laid out a century ago the last of the intervening space was removed; and Poe in his walks must have seen only a sheer ascent of dull grey brick flush with the sidewalk and surmounted at a height of ten feet by the antique shingled bulk of the house proper. "The farm-like grounds extended back very deeply up the hill, almost to Wheaton Street. The space south of the house, abutting on Benefit Street, was of course greatly above the existing sidewalk level, forming a terrace bounded by a high bank wall of damp, mossy stone pierced by a steep flight of narrow steps which led inward between canyon-like surfaces to the upper region of mangy lawn, rheumy brick walls, and neglected gardens whose dismantled cement urns, rusted kettles fallen from tripods of knotty sticks, and similar paraphernalia set off the weather-beaten front door with its broken fanlight, rotting Ionic pilasters, and wormy triangular pediment. "What I heard in my youth about the shunned house was merely that people died there in alarmingly great numbers. That, I was told, was why the original owners had moved out some twenty years after building the place. It was plainly unhealthy, perhaps because of the dampness and fungous growth in the cellar, the general sickish smell, the draughts of the hallways, or the quality of the well and pump water. These things were bad enough, and these were all that gained belief among the persons whom I knew. Only the notebooks of my antiquarian uncle, Dr. Elihu Whipple, revealed to me at length the darker, vaguer surmises which formed an undercurrent of folklore among old-time servants and humble folk; surmises which never travelled far, and which were largely forgotten when Providence grew to be a metropolis with a shifting modern population." H.P. Lovecraft, The Shunned House Be mindful that this is a private residence. Please be respectful.

We went for the 250th university of the redaction, the event was free and open for 4 hours. The…read moremuseum was small but very informational. The displays prompted deep thinking about our past, both good and bad. The staff were dressed in period clothing and everyone there was friendly. The museum has stairs to get to the second floor, the building is beautiful and it holds just enough artifacts to be interesting without overwhelming.​

This site does a great job showcasing John Brown's house and his historical ties to the slave…read moretrade. The house is from the 18th century, but there are elements from later homeowners that were kept up and add a nice aesthetic touch, but it is important to know more about the Brown benefactor, both good and bad. They have his original carriage which is impressive. There is a beautiful mural in one room with George Washington, added in the 1930s but so impressive it had to stay up. The tour was self-guided, but there were staff members around to ask questions too. Gift shop was small but some good options. The hours are limited, but it's worth a stop as a historically significant site. There is also a parking lot to make your visit easier.

A beautiful neoclassical building that was built between 1891-1901; located in the heart of…read moredowntown Providence. This building can be seen from the Prospect Terrace park, it's also grand and magnificent up close. The dome is massive and it's the fourth largest marble dome in the world. The RI Senate is in the east wing and the RI House of Representatives are in the west wing; there are also the State library and Room. A gold statue called the Independent Man is perched on top of the grand dome. I have fond memories and even pictures of when I was younger in front of this building. It's a photogenic spot to take those Instagram photos. I recently stayed at the hotel next door and enjoyed seeing this building during my stay. We walked around the grounds and admired the architecture and history. Every December, they have a Christmas tree displayed in the rotunda. The grounds were nicely maintained; a beautiful structure and an important piece of Rhode Island history. If you're in Providence, I highly recommend walking the grounds and admire this historic landmark.

This is a beautiful marble dome and building in the Capitol Hill section of Providence…read more Many state offices are housed here such as the Governor's, Treasurer, House of Representatives, Senators, etc. They offer guided tours a few times a day (usually from 10a-3pm on weekdays) but you can also follow a self guided tour program and enjoy the inside of the building.

The Meeting Street Steps are an unusual feature in the College Hill National Historic Landmark…read moreDistrict. These 20 granite steps were constructed in the late 18th-century to connect Meeting Street and Congdon Street and had for centuries provided a shortcut for residents, including Governor William Sprague. Local folklore maintains that Sprague would travel out of his way between his home and the old State House just to ride up and down the steps on horseback. We take these steps a lot when we take our walks along the East Side of Providence, so we have enjoyed the city views from both the top and bottom of the steps. These steps have a strong historical significance to the city. Prior to its 1995 inclusion on the Most Endangered Properties list, the city-owned Meeting Street Steps stood in complete disrepair. Moisture had forced the steps out of alignment; the retaining walls on either side were crumbling; and the handrail had disappeared. Neighboring residents formed the Meeting Street Steps Work Group and petitioned the Preservation Society to include the stairs on its Most Endangered Properties list. Beginning in 1999, in conjunction with the City and the Meeting Street Work Group, the Preservation Society helped to solicit over $100,000 in donations from nearly 350 residents. Soon thereafter, ground was broken to realign the steps, rebuild the retaining wall, install handrails, and beautify the surrounding area. Contributors included the College Hill Neighborhood Association, the North Benefit Street Association, the Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, and East Side Marketplace, which pledged 1% of the cash register receipt totals of concerned shoppers. Today, they are in good shape and used by hundreds of pedestrians.

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States; but it has a unique and diverse culture,…read moreespecially its capital city, Providence. Downtown Providence is my favorite City; maybe I'm biased because I was born there. As a teenager, I loved taking the city bus to the Providence Place Mall, then hanging out at the Waterplace Park. Once I was in college, I would frequent Thayer St., the East side, and Wickenden St. often. I was always hanging out with my friends, at one of my favorite dive bar/club, Club Hell; they had 80s nights on Tuesdays, goth nights on Wednesdays, and Rock & Roll nights on Fridays. Providence is definitely a foodie city with tons of good eats. On a warm day, just take a walk around; lots of history and beautiful architecture. The new pedestrian bridge is also a lovely addition. There are many events that goes on, Waterfire is a popular one. It is home to some notable colleges such as Brown University, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Rhode Island College (my alma mater!) If you go to Federal Hill, there are some good restaurants and bars; home to the best Italian food. If you want to be one with nature, go to Roger Williams Park and Zoo. Overall, definitely a fun little city and gem in my eyes.

Overnight Parking fines. Received a $40 dollar fine for parking on the street in front of our…read moredaughters dorm. Not a single sign up and down any street about on campus concerning No overnight parking without a permit. Although there are signs every 10 feet about 3 hour limit they couldn't be troubled to post about that so they can fine visitors. When you call the city you are told that has been a law for 70 years that I should have known about even thought I have been living in a different state my entire life. Also was they actually have it posted at the entrances to town, but I couldn't be giving an example of where to find one.

Didn't feel like doing the guided tour, but having never been here as a lifelong RI-er I figured…read moreI'd take the plunge. Nice, historical sight with loads of history and information even without taking the tour. Just on the out squirts of the shady part(s) of the state, but right next to the police station. The water was really bustling on this day. On a day where I have more time I'll definitely have to take a more extended look.

This is a free historic site that has a really great tour. The site is just off the river and there…read moreare a few buildings on site, but not all of them are open. But there are multiple tours during the day, so after perhaps watching the intro video, you can join one. The guide took us into the mill and demonstrated multiple machines used in various stages of cotton to thread production. It was great to see the process in front of us, and it was quite a complex process that required a lot of engineering using waterpower to get completed. I found it very informative, and the guide was able to answer all of our questions, so it's a great experience for kids and adults. No gift shop though, but there is a bathroom on site. The building was described to me as "yellow" when it's peach, but I won't fault that, just saying if you're looking for it, look for peach. There is parking across the street and a small lot next to it.

Months before the American Revolution started, colonists destroyed British tea in protest. You know…read moreabout that, right? Well maybe not. Because this plaque doesn't commemorate the 1773 protest known as the Boston Tea Party, when Massachusetts colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor. Instead, it refers to a later incident in Providence, RI, when its colonists burned the British stash of the "Needless Herb" in protest against the Crown. This happened on March 2, 1775. It's an inspirational story of patriotism, defiance, and solidarity. Based on the urgings of the Continental Congress, Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly agreed to show support against British tyranny. They did so by lighting a bonfire on Market Square, and after speech making and the ringing of bells, hundreds of pounds of British tea were tossed into the fire. One month later, things had reached their breaking point with the killings at Lexington and Concord. The Revolution was under way. The plaque's inscription reads: Near this spot the men and women of Providence showed their resistance to the unfair taxation by burning British Taxed tea in the night March 2nd 1775 Erected 1894 by Rhode Island Societies of Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution. Too bad the plaque is in such tough shape, how awesome would it be if this treasure of American history could be restored?

Historical marker at the spot in a building where Tea from England was protested and burned in the…read moreyear 1775. Call it the Providence Tea Party! A revolution that started, against burdensome taxation. Traffic cones and trash in front. Plaque is in need of more attention and paint, barely legible.. The building itself looks like an old custom clerks office. Needs much better management. Rebel review: 4

This is another piece of contemporary art made by Boris Bally, a local legend in our state. This is…read morea significant statement, one of many made by this creative, thoughtful person. Many of Boris' pieces are made from discards, including his repurposed street signs.

Standing 12 feet tall in front of Providence's Federal Courthouse is this unusual monument…read moreconstructed out of steel, concrete, and used handguns. The "Gun Totem" was constructed in 2001 with guns from a firearm buy-back program in Pittsburgh. Altogether, more than 1,000 guns went into the construction of the pillar, which was commissioned by the Providence Parks Department. All of the guns included in the project were disabled and fossilized beneath concrete, and bits of the pillar were chipped away so people could see the deadly layer beneath the its exterior. This is a monument for all who want peace and want to trade in their guns to make a permanent symbol of harmony and amity.

The house is beautiful and full of original furniture. Our guide Elizabeth was very professional,…read moreknowledgeable and friendly. She loves history and answered all our questions. Enjoyed the tour immensely! I would recommend this tour as a DONT MISS!

Last Friday, we had the pleasure of touring the historic Lippitt House in Providence--and it was…read moreabsolutely amazing! What made the experience truly unforgettable was our guide, Elizabeth Gilbert (not the author of Eat, Pray, Love, but THE Elizabeth Gilbert who brings history to life). Her tour was informative, engaging, and full of fascinating details that transported us straight into the elegance of Victorian times. If you're visiting magical Providence, don't miss this gem. It's a beautiful step back in time, guided by someone who clearly loves what she does.