What Is the Old State House?
This was one of Rhode Island’s five state houses (“colony houses”), one for each county to accommodate the General Assembly’s rotating schedule!
What Makes It Historical?
When this Georgian style building was constructed between 1760 and 1762, Rhode Island was pretty different. Not yet a state, it had colony houses, and main city wasn’t Providence at all, but Newport! Nevertheless, this specific colony house was the site of some significant events, like the breaking away of Rhode Island from the British crown on May 4, 1776! This is where voting rights were granted to Catholics in 1783 and gradual emancipation of enslaved folks was signed into law in 1784!
By 1854, the state house rotation had been reduced to just Providence and Newport, and this building got some renovations, first in 1840 under Russell Warren, then an enlargement in 1850 under Thomas Tefft to accommodate an Assembly expanded by an update to the state constitution! Later remodels brought in brownstone and Colonial Revival elements, which were still in place when the General Assembly grew right out of this building and into the new State House in 1901! After the move, the Old State House became the Sixth District Court then the headquarters of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, which it remains today!
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?
150 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!