National Historic Landmark

Brown, John, House

Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
Listed
November 23, 1968
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
68000007

About this property

The John Brown House borders the campus of Brown University at 52 Power Street on College Hill in Providence, Rhode Island. Completed in 1788, it was the first mansion to be built in Providence and is named after its first owner, John Brown, a statesman, merchant, slave trader, and early benefactor of the University. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968. The American president John Quincy Adams called it "the most magnificent and elegant private mansion that I have ever seen on this continent."

Location

52 Power St.
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
41.82352, -71.40430

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Brown, John, House

This page lists Brown, John, House. 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Brown, John, House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Corliss, John, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Nightingale-Brown House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Ives, Thomas P., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Corliss-Carrington House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hopkins, Gov. Stephen, House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Bunker Hill – Rhode Island contingent
1775Revolutionary War
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Brown, John, House listed on the National Register?

Brown, John, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 1968.

What type of historic resource is Brown, John, House?

Brown, John, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Brown, John, House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Brown, John, House has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Brown, John, House?

The period of significance for Brown, John, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Brown, John, House?

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 Brown, John, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Providence County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Providence County.

Explore ProvidenceCounty ›

More historic places in Rhode Island

Browse all historic places in Rhode Island.

View Rhode Islandhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Rhode Island history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Rhode Islandhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Brown, John, House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report