The RISD Museum in Providence is one of those places that catches you off guard with how much it…read morehas to offer, especially if you are not already familiar with it going in. I found the building spanning six floors, and the spaces were well organized throughout, giving each piece enough room to be appreciated properly without the galleries ever feeling sparse or rushed. It is the kind of museum where I could spend a couple of hours moving through it and still feel like I left things unexplored. The collection is the main reason to visit, and it covers a genuinely impressive range, from ancient artifacts and historical portraits all the way through to modern and contemporary works. The curation does a good job of making those transitions between periods feel intentional rather than disjointed, and the rotating exhibits add a reason to come back beyond what is already on permanent display. The Liz Collins exhibit drew a lot of attention during its run and was a strong example of how well the museum handles contemporary work alongside its more classical holdings. Staff were present and approachable throughout the floors, and coat lockers near the entrance were available, a small but appreciated detail on a longer visit. The building was easy to navigate even on a first trip, and the overall experience felt well managed without being overly structured. One thing worth knowing before planning a trip is that Sundays offer free admission to all visitors, which makes it an easy addition to a Providence weekend without having to think twice. Weekday visits run quieter if you prefer more space and a slower pace through the galleries. For a museum connected to an art school, it holds up as one of the stronger art museums in the region and is well worth the time.

The RISD Museum is worth a visit. I'm sharing photos of the pieces that stood out to me most. I…read morestarted in the RISD student galleries, which were full of impressive work. my favorite was a floor installation that looks like a woven rug but is actually made entirely of salt. So many pieces made you stop and think, "How did they do that?!" I visited the whole museum, but my favorites were the Costume & Textile galleries, the exhibit on kingfishers in art and poetry, the European Grand Gallery with its oil paintings and the 18th/19th‑century American rooms in Pendleton House. I also loved how the museum's architecture fits together like a puzzle across several older buildings and street entrances. That was a surprising add-on to the visit. Extra tip: street parking is nearly impossible. Check their website for the free weekend parking lots (within walking distance) they make the visit much easier.

A great spot. $2 for general admission, $5 if you want to see the planetarium show too. Even with…read moreits small size you can't go wrong with those prices. As I said it is on the small side, in a hurry you could do the musuem in 15 minutes, and even taking your time it could be done in half an hour. There are plenty of displays, but not much in terms of factual information compared to other musuems. Check this place out, even if its not your thing for the price you can't go wrong.

Only 2 handicap parking spots and the entrance had steps where the door opens towards you are you…read moreare trying to come in. $2 admission is not bad and staff are friendly. So if you need an ADA parking spot, show up early and there's one in each of the parking lots adjacent to the building.

The collection of taxidermy was amazing, this is a phenomenal resource for RISD students and a…read moregreat exhibit for those visiting.

I had no idea the Nature Lab even existed until I wandered in one day. This is definitely a hidden…read moregem! The Nature Lab is a repository of plants, animals, and minerals, both alive and dead, which was started as a resource for RISD students. They have a pretty amazing collection, and anyone can go in and check it all out. A nonexhaustive list of cool stuff in there: trilobite fossils, live snakes and birds, at least a hundred stuffed animals, a mummified cat head, and hoards of bones and skulls - including real human skeletons. They have a lot of space to draw if that's your thing. My only wish is that more stuff was identified - the material in the lab obviously isn't rigorously curated. It could be a great resource for scientists if it were!

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.

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.​

Haffenreffer is a tiny and FREE museum of anthropology on Brown's campus that my friend and I…read morevisited during our weekend of exploring Providence and Newport. When we visited, they had some very interesting exhibits. The one that interested me the most was "Sacred is Sacred: The Art of Protecting Bears Ears." It was very interesting and well-displayed. Why only three stars for this interesting and free museum? Well, it's tiny. It's essentially a single room. And I would think (given the size) that the likelihood of someone enjoying the museum is very dependent on the quality of the exhibits at the time of the visit. But it's free - so if you're walking around Brown, stop in! You never know what you'll find!

Free admittance but really not worth going out of your way to see anything here. If you're at Brown…read moreor in the general area and have an interest in anthropology, you'll do well to stop in. I would not make special trip. My favorite items here were some Taino figurines.

Krista and Carla were our educational leaders. They have so much knowledge!…read moreThey gave so much information about all the weather apparatus and the use of this observatory! The view is amazing! Definitely need to go back in the spring!

Free water for dog and 2$ designer water. Best bargain I've received this month with a great view.read more

A museum filled with an endless amount of national and international treasures, each with its own…read morestory. Let me just start by saying this museum is HUGE so expect to spend the entire day here to see every single exhibit and piece available. The jewels has to be my favorite part of the museum, alongside the beautiful sculptures from Greek history. Tour guides, multiple shops, restaurants and very friendly customer service to give you recommendations on where to begin once entering the great hall! If you're in Boston, you MUST give this place a visit and you'll leave perplexed with the level of importance many pieces carry! I see something new everytime I come in here! The gift that truly keeps on giving.

Great collection. They have a few Van Gogh landscapes (including a rendition of the wheat field)…read moreand their Monet collection is medium-sized and varied. John Singer Sargent's work can be found all around Boston, and the MFA holds the largest collection of John Singer Sargent in the world. Considering that he painted the ceiling murals that you see when you walk in, I think that's very fitting. I was able to catch the Winslow Homer exhibition-- walked in and bought my general admission ticket to the museum. The Homer exhibition was at no additional cost, but did require an additional timed ticket. They had spots open for the next slot, so all four of my friends and I were able to go see it together. One of us accidentally forgot to get the additional ticket at the general admission desk, but an employee in front of the exhibit was nice enough to do the computer work to issue us a ticket there. $30 for general adult admission is a higher price compared to similar art museums around the world, and it would have been nice if there were more ways to get a discount (such as expanding the list of universities they offer student admission for or being part of more city tourism passes). I spent an efficient four hours in there and saw almost every corner of the museum. The price tag means I'll skip it next time I'm nearby, but I still think it's a must visit for first timers.

Well that was super fun…read more When we arrived no one was on the desk so we began to wander the first floor. If you just want to walk around, and check out the machines that is free. I saw someone who works there and he gave us a quick 'tour'. Pinball machines are set up here by year beginning in the 1930's! There a many from the 70's, a big collection of 80's and then further back it's a mix. The tour took up upstairs. There is a wheelchair lift here, however, you have to step over a barrier at the bottom of the doorway leading to the stairs so not really handicap accessible? Call if you need info on that. Keep that door at the bottom of the staircase open so you can get back! At the top of the steps is a private event room. (sorry no photo, a meeting was going on). Turn right after the event room and follow the hallway to the 'Blue Room' on the left at the end. Here you'll find a small, open space for a party with shelves of board games, a table and comfy couches. The Blue Room includes several racing games (seated style), shooter games, skeeball, basketball throw and other arcade games. There were a couple dozen pinball machines without an outlet to play them stored in this space. Our tour guide tells us for events up to 150 people, these games are moved out and tables moved into that space. The second floor hosts many other businesses so be respectful when in the halls. Our visit lasted about two hours playing all the games. Some of the pinball machines include information on who designed them and other info. The Star Trek machine is signed by some of the actors. Scoobydoo, Addams family, Aerosmith, Rick & Morty, Dolly Parton, on and on. Some games have hepatic feedback - like when the dinosaur eats your ball in the Jurasic Park pinball game the entire machine shakes. I love how the machines are all set to 'free play'. You just hit the start button (usually a round button on the front) and you get your three balls. When that game ends, hit start again and you get another three balls. Also, if you loose a ball quickly, you get an extra ball. Really makes for a fun experience. Admission is ten dollars per person (all ages), cash or credit, and covers playing all the available games for the whole day - come and go as you please. Parking is available next to the building in two lots. No food or drink are available for sale here. When hosting an event here, bring your own catering. Contact them/visit their website for details on hosting events. Public restrooms are on the upper level off the hallway. The museum space is more or less warehouse space. It was cold in there when we visited and we left our coats and hats on (February). When there are a lot of games being played, it gets loud, so be prepared. There are a few step stools for the smaller kids. Check next to or under the machines for those or if you have a collapsable one at home maybe bring it along just in case they are all in use. During our week day visit there were a fair amount of adults in there enjoying pinball and all the other games. Staff are knowledgeable and very easy to chat with. Definitely plan an outting to visit this fun museum diguised as an arcade. Alone, or with the kids. You might become the 'fun uncle' after a day here with the nibblings.

A great deal for lots of play time for $10. We stayed for 2 hours. As many machines awaiting…read morebeing fixed as working, but still so many working, fun to look at the designs of both. I highly recommend!

I recently checked out this event at the Newport Art Museum with a few of my girlfriends and we had…read moresuch a fun night. It was the perfect excuse to get dressed up and try something new, with a twist of course... delicious cocktails. The Edgar Allan Poe experience itself was really well done. The actors were fantastic and fully committed to their roles. I loved the costumes and the dramatic personalities. It made the whole evening feel immersive without being over the top. I'm actually at the museum about once a month for meetings, so it was fun to see the space used in a completely different way. My only wish is that we had a little more time to wander and take in the current exhibits, because it's such a beautiful setting. My one real downside is parking. With the recent changes, it has become pretty difficult to find a spot that is easy to get in and out of, especially during a New England winter. Definitely something to plan ahead for. Overall, such a unique and memorable night. I would absolutely recommend grabbing your friends and checking this out if it comes back around.

Beautiful space to view some art. I believe the whole place is a historic mansion rennovated for…read morethe museum. There are actually 2 buildings and both were beautiful with some stunning pieces. Small, but lovely, and still somehow incredibly grand. I didn't get to go into the main/large room because they were installing a new exhibit but there is a good amount to see beyond that one space anyway. The gift shop was small and no one was manning it so I didn't get to buy a souveneir but I enjoyed walking around the history and art that was everywhere. Also worth mentioning, but they had some good pieces by woman artists (c. 1940s) which I feel can be extremely hard to find. For this museum, the women tended to be friends of the original owners or at least ran in the same circles and some were even founding members of the museum's art association. Always so nice to see women's art (and some were my favorite pieces!) That being said, most of the art was very high brow white upper class with an emphasis on orientalism, which I feel simply encourages conversations about the zeitgeist of the early 1900s. I did really enjoy the pieces they had from Edward Mitchell Bannister which were on loan from the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. There was also a members juried exhibit which brought some breath into the traditionalist art space. Well worth the visit!!

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.