What Is the General Ambrose E. Burnside House?
This was the final home of the Union general, Rhode Island governor, and namesake of the sideburn hairstyle!
What Makes It Historical?
The career of Ambrose Burnside was a mixed bag for sure! Organizer of the 1st Rhode Island Infantry, he earned promotions for his leadership at First Manassas and in North Carolina, but his decisions at the Battle of Antietam and Fredericksburg led to huge Union losses! He successfully defended Knoxville against General Longstreet, but his hesitation at the Siege of Petersburg led to more Union deaths and his resignation. Uniform throughout, though, was his outrageous facial hair, which became known as sideburns!
Once the Civil War was over, General Burnside entered politics, and while preparing to begin a term as governor of Rhode Island, he commissioned architect, Alfred Stone, to build a home for him and his family. The challenge was, his lot was a trapezoid on a steep hill! He made it work, though, and the Second Empire-style house was completed in 1867! General Burnside completed two terms in the US Senate before finally dying in 1884. At that time, the house became headquarters for the Providence Children’s Friend Society House for Aged Women and the Providence Association for the Benefit of Colored Children!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the Providence Preservation Society!
- Become a member of the Providence Preservation Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
314 Benefit St
Providence, RI 02903
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
View the exterior any time you like, but there are no regular tour hours at this historic site!