What Is the John Brown House?
This was the 12-room mansion of Brown University co-founder, John Brown!
What Makes It Historical?
John Brown was a fierce individualist, who made his fortune with his three brothers, Nicholas, Moses, and Joseph, in real estate, shipbuilding, and the slave trade, which put him at odds with his abolitionist brother, Moses! In fact, despite the disasters that befell their contracted slave ship, Sally in 1764, John Brown persisted even after the direct slave trade became illegal. He was the first American to be tried and convicted for trading in enslaved folks after it was banned in 1794! He didn’t go to jail, but he lost his ship, the Hope!
Ironically, Mr. Brown was a big proponent of the Revolution, joining the Sons of Liberty and leading the burning of the HMS Gaspee, a British customs ship that was enforcing the Navigation Acts around Newport, Rhode Island! He would then go on to sell the fledgling United States Navy its first ship, the U.S.S. Providence!
With all his investments combined, including founding Providence Bank, Rhode Island’s first, Mr. Brown funded the state’s largest mansion in 1786. He’d even sent his son and son-in-law on a scouting mission around New England to make sure that what he was building was the biggest and best! With that knowledge, he recruited his brother, Joseph, the same amateur architect responsible for the First Baptist Meeting House, and two years later, the enormous, Late Georgian mansion was up, decorated by busts of Summer and Winter that were rumored to have been taken from Versailles during the French Revolution!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer with the Rhode Island Historical Society!
- Become a member of the Rhode Island Historical 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?
52 Power St
Providence, RI 02906
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The museum is open one day only per week: Saturdays from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM!
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