Providence Attractions

The state capital, Providence, situated at the northern tip of Narragansett Bay, was founded in 1636 and soon developed into a flourishing commercial port. It has a rich stock of restored buildings of the 17th-19th centuries, notably the John Brown House (1786), with a richly appointed interior, and the residence of Governor Stephen Hopkins (1707). Providence also has an unusual number of old churches, including the first Baptist church in America (1775). The shopping arcade, opened in 1828, was the first indoor arcade in America. The imposing domed State House (1901) was designed by the well-known firm of architects McKim, Mead and White. Below it are the Riverwalk and Waterplace Park, opened in 1997. The Rhode Island School of Design has a small but high-quality art collection. Pawtucket, to the north of Providence, was the cradle of American industry. In 1793 the fledgling United State's first "factory" opened here when Slater Mill set up its textile operation.