The Providence Athenaeum is one of America's oldest member-supported libraries, and it has functioned as such since 1753 (although the present structure was built in 1838). According to a 19th-century legend, the poet Edgar Allen Poe courted Sarah Whitman in the stacks of this granite Greek Revival building. Some of the collections include documents and books from the original Providence Library, rare editions from the likes of Louisa May Alcott, Herman Melville and other American authors, along with the Robert Burns collection, which has more than 400 items. Today, the Athenaeum hosts events round the year focusing on education for both adults as well as children.
Riverwalk & Waterplace Park is pegged against the confluence of the Woonasquatucket and Providence rivers in a little corner of downtown Providence. It's best known for its WaterFire events, which are mini-bonfires that bob atop the water to the beat of world and classical music. The city revitalized the entire area in 1994 and the walk makes an otherwise droll stroll into a pleasant one when walking to College Hill over the Washington Street bridge. The park's bridges are fashioned after those classical ones in Venice, and it's not uncommon to see gondoliers gliding under them.
In 1764, three men from Newport established 'The College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,' which, for the sake of brevity, was shortened to Brown University in 1804. One of the original eight Ivy League Colleges, standing strong ever since its inception, Brown University boasts an excellent educational offering which spans diverse disciplines including engineering, design, ancient studies, archaeology, academics and sciences, among others. However, the university bears as much brilliance in its architecture as it does in its academics. Its campus is laden with exceptional examples of late 18th-century architecture residing around the Wriston and Simmons quadrangles, as well as those on the Pembroke College campus, and along Benefit Street. The John Hay Library, the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Annmary Brown Memorial, and Haffenreffer Museum are also notable highlights of Brown University.
WaterFire is a magnificent array of more than 80 mini bonfires or braziers that illuminate the three rivers of Providence. It began in 1994 when artist Barnaby Evans used the confluence of the rivers to create this ephemeral water exhibition. However, it was not that fleeting because the city of Providence along with generous volunteers and donors continues to present the exhibition every weekend. The route runs from Waterplace Park to South Main Street and it winds nearly two-thirds of a mile through parks and public spaces in downtown Providence. Here, people can stroll along the riverbanks while listening to the sounds of classical music hum over loudspeakers. The fires are lit approximately 20 minutes after sunset each Saturday and usually burn for two to three hours.
Stretching from Main Street in the northern part of College Hill to Alves Way in the neighborhood of Fox Point, this street is also called the 'Mile of History'. Benefit Street has been a catalyst in the history of the city and state. Along the way, visitors will see many Victorian and Colonial homes as well as the campus of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. The street is dotted with other historical attractions like the Providence Athenaeum, the First Baptist Church in America and the anachronistic John Brown and Nightingale Houses. If you choose to walk yourself, the Providence Preservation Society provides free pamphlets in order to guide you down the street.
Third Beach is not an oceanfront beach; it faces Narragansett Bay. Small and quiet, this beach is popular with families. The surf is calm, making it easy to play in the water. Bath houses and facilities for changing are available, but parking is limited. Bird watchers may also catch a glimpse of favorite species from a nearby bird sanctuary. Sunsets are lovely to watch from this eastern section of the beach, making this a great spot to end a beach day.
Built in 1884, Memorial Hall at Milford, Massachusetts is a tribute to the Civil War. Using Milford granite and Longmeadow brownstone as materials for constructions, it gives it an aesthetic and exclusive feel to the entire building. There is a bronze plaque in the front end of the building that has the Lincoln's Gettysburg Address inscribed on it. Restorations were carried out in the beginning of the 21st Century to revive its look that had mellowed down since its construction. Now it is used as a museum and got listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Barrington Preservation Society was inaugurated in 1885 and aims at portraying the history of the town of Barrington. They collect, organize and present documents, collectibles and other data which portrays the rich history and culture of the town. The museum has on display various photographs and official documents dating back to as far 1700's which describes the life and development the town underwent over the ages.
As far as history speaks, the Lafayette-Durfee House was built prior to 1750, and it changed location to the new spot at Cherry Street. The land which the house was originally situated on, was mortgaged by Thomas Durfee, the owner of the property for financing the American Revolution. Thomas' son, Joseph served with Marquis de Lafayette as a colonel at many times. The Durfee family hosted Lafayette during summers and on many occasions. The house was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
As the name suggests the Governor Stephen Hopkins House was the former residence of the governor of Rhode Island Stephen Hopkins once resided in the early 1700s. Built in the 18th Century, the house was expanded from its original structure under the order of the governor himself. The house was restored in the year 1920 by Normal Isham and later came under the ownership of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. It is now open to the public and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the National Historic Landmark.
Cliff Walk is an iconic 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) path that stretches along breathtaking views of the roaring, azure ocean on one side and the historic Newport Mansions on the other. Aptly named, Cliff Walk skirts the periphery of a stunted cliff, atop an embankment of rocks. Strap on your walking shoes and tread along the scenic path to take in unmatched views and learn about some of the historic buildings and abodes of the town—a must-have experience for all.
The Providence Athenaeum is one of America's oldest member-supported libraries, and it has functioned as such since 1753 (although the present structure was built in 1838). According to a 19th-century legend, the poet Edgar Allen Poe courted Sarah Whitman in the stacks of this granite Greek Revival building. Some of the collections include documents and books from the original Providence Library, rare editions from the likes of Louisa May Alcott, Herman Melville and other American authors, along with the Robert Burns collection, which has more than 400 items. Today, the Athenaeum hosts events round the year focusing on education for both adults as well as children.