National Register of Historic Places

Bristol Waterfront Historic District

Bristol, Bristol County, Rhode Island
Listed
March 17, 1975
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
75000053

About this property

The Bristol Waterfront Historic District is a historic district encompassing the original heart of Bristol, Rhode Island, which was laid out in 1680 by the town's original proprietors. It stretches from Bristol Harbor to the east side of Wood St., as far north as Washington Street, and south to Walker Cove. The district's principal areas of importance are the waterfront area on the west side, and the Town Common, part of the original layout, which forms the civic heart of the town. It is one of the few planned communities in the state, and the only one of such great age. The district features residential, civic, and commercial architecture encompassing most of its more than three centuries of existence. Its 19th-century architecture is particularly strong in examples of the work of native son Russell Warren. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Major buildings in the district which are separately listed on the National Register include the Bristol County Jail, Bristol County Courthouse, and the Bristol Customshouse and Post Office.

Location

Bristol, Bristol County, Rhode Island
41.66336, -71.27193

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCETRANSPORTATIONEUROPEANPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bristol Waterfront Historic District

This page lists Bristol Waterfront Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Bristol County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Bristol Customshouse and Post Office
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Bristol County Jail
Early Republic
0.5 mi
Blithewold
Industrial
0.7 mi
Juniper Hill Cemetery
Listed
1.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Bombardment of Bristol, Rhode Island (1775)
1775Revolutionary War
0.9 mi
Battle of Rhode Island Aug 29 1778
1778Revolutionary War
1.5 mi
Battle of Rhode Island – American Withdrawal
1778Revolutionary War
2.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Bristol Waterfront Historic District listed on the National Register?

Bristol Waterfront Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Bristol Waterfront Historic District?

Bristol Waterfront Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Bristol Waterfront Historic District?

The period of significance for Bristol Waterfront Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Bristol Waterfront Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Bristol Waterfront Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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