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Best History Museums in Providence

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Established in 1822, the Rhode Island Historical Society is an organization that aims to preserve and maintain the state's historical archives and landmarks. As a part of this endeavor, it manages several locations in Providence. The most highlighted ones are The John Brown House Museum, The Museum of Work & Culture, The Aldrich House and The RIHS Library, where the headquarters is located. The collections at these museums feature books, journals, manuscripts, and objects about life in both pre- and post-revolutionary America. Additionally, the society also conducts workshops, seminars and tours with many of the proceeds directed towards preserving the history of this original colony that was the first to secede from the British Crown.

This very handsome and elegant Renaissance Revival mansion is the former home of one of Rhode Island's most influential politicians, Henry Lippitt. It's massive, with 30 rooms spread over three-floors, the mansion displays American Victorian opulence at its best. All of the rooms are finished in filigreed woodwork and the light through the stained-glass windows is amazing during Autumn. Since its construction in 1865, the mansion harbored generations of Lippitt's descendants until they finally donated it to Preserve Rhode Island in 1981. The society hosts tours (on Friday only during Summer) and it also rents the estate along with the first-floor museum for events.

This commanding three-floor mansion sits along the aptly named Power Street in historic College Hill. The house was built in 1786 for the premier Providence merchant of his day and early trustee of the nearby university, John Brown. Now, under the purview of the Rhode Island Historical Society, this mansion preserves original furnishings and decorations from the 18th Century, which includes a nine-shell desk and bookcase as a couple of great examples. As with many historical attractions in Providence, this one offers a glimpse into the life of Colonial America after the Revolutionary War.

This museum is located in impeccably landscaped Roger Williams Park, named after the state's founder. The museum opened in 1896 and over the last century it has collected more than 250,000 artifacts from across North America and beyond. Most of the objects are not on display, however there is plenty of taxidermy. As far as the planetarium is concerned, it features a state-of-the-art Zeiss projector with a full-dome and it has several shows daily. Some of the programs include, Our Place in Space, Journey to the Stars, Sky Views and Great Space Adventure in addition to many others. The museum hosts events throughout the year aimed towards kids like adventure tours in the vault, fossil find activities, workshops and much, much more.

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