Page 162 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

160  NE W ENGLAND

Rhode Island Founded in 1764, Brown
University is the seventh-
The smallest state in America, Rhode Island is not an island at oldest college in the US and
all but has a shoreline dotted with lovely islets and beaches. one of the prestigious Ivy
Although known as the Ocean State, half of Rhode Island is League schools. Its beautiful
woodland, ideal for nature walks and camping. The state’s two campus, a rich blend of
Gothic and Beaux Arts styles,
major cities are Providence, the lively capital, and Newport, is worth exploring. Notable
which has some of New England’s most opulent mansions. buildings here include the John
Hay Library with its collection
of memorabilia relating to
President Abraham Lincoln, the
John Carter Brown Library with
a fascinating collection of
Americana, and the List Art
Center, a striking building
designed by Philip Johnson,
which features Classical and
contemporary art.
John Brown House, a
Georgian mansion, built in 1786
for a wealthy merchant and
shipowner, has been impeccably
Stately buildings along Benefit Street’s Mile of History in Providence restored. Its interior is decorated
with ornate plaster-ornamented
9 Providence street has more than 100 houses ceilings, a grand staircase with
ranging in style from Colonial twisted balusters, and wallpapers
* 174,000. ~ £ Providence Station,
100 Gaspee St. @ Kennedy Plaza. and Federal to Greek Revival from France. Its 12 rooms are a
g Point St (to Newport). and Victorian. Its architectural repository for some of the finest
n 1 Sabin St, (401) 751-1177 or (800) gems include the Providence furniture and antiques of that
233-1636. _ Festival of Historic Athenaeum, a Greek-Revival- period. Nearby, another house
Houses (Jun); International Film style library, whose collection with fine 18th-century
Festival (Aug). ∑ goprovidence.com dates back to 1753 and the First furnishings is the 1707 Governor
Unitarian Church. Its 2,500-lb Stephen Hopkins House.
Perched on seven hills on (1,130-kg) bell was one of the One of the brightest additions
the banks of Narragansett Bay, largest cast by Paul Revere’s to downtown Providence is
Providence is an interesting foundry. Also on Benefit Street is Waterplace Park and
blend of the historic and the the Rhode Island School of Riverwalk, a 4-acre (1.6-ha)
modern. It started life as a Design’s RISD Museum of Art, walkway located at the junction
farming community, established whose comprehensive collection of three rivers – the Moshassuck,
in 1636 by the clergyman ranges from Ancient Egyptian to Providence, and Woona-
Roger Williams, who was contemporary American art. A squatucket. Visitors can also
driven from the Massachusetts short distance to the north, on stroll along the park’s cobble-
Bay colony for his outspoken Main Street, is the First Baptist stone paths, float under foot-
beliefs on religious freedom. Church in America. The 1774–5 bridges in canoes or gondolas,
It soon became a flourishing building has an intricately and enjoy free concerts at the
seaport, and then evolved into carved wooden interior and a amphitheater during the
a hub of industry in the 19th Waterford crystal chandelier. summer season.
century, with immigrants from
Europe pouring in to work in
its textile mills.
Providence is bisected by the
Providence River. On its west
bank is the downtown district,
with a lively dining and
entertainment scene and a
revitalized waterfront, largely
due to Waterfire Providence®’s
art installations and bonfires. To
the east is the campus of Brown
University and several historic
streets. The most outstanding of
these is Benefit Street’s Mile
of History. This lovely tree-lined Roger Williams Park and Zoo, a highlight of downtown Providence
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp184–6 and pp187–9

160-161_EW_USA.indd 160 11/2/16 2:44 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm