National Register of Historic Places

Roger Williams National Memorial

Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000942

About this property

The Roger Williams National Memorial is a landscaped urban park located on a common lot of the original settlement of Providence, Rhode Island, established by minister Roger Williams in 1636. The national memorial commemorates the life of Williams, who co-founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and championed religious freedom. The park is bounded by North Main, Canal, and Smith Streets, and Park Row. The Roger Williams National Memorial is a 4.5-acre (1.8 ha) park located near the eastern bank of the Moshassuck River, east of the Rhode Island State House and north of Downtown Providence. It stands at the base of College Hill, upon which the early settlement of Providence was concentrated. The memorial is separated from the river by Canal Street, and bounded on the other three sides by Smith Street, Park Row, and North Main Street. The southern portion of the park has a relatively open grassy area ringed by trees, while the northern portion is more landscaped, with the visitor center housed in the 1736 Antram-Gray House at the northeast corner, and a parking area on the west side. Major features in the northern section include the Vernon Grove and the site of the spring which prompted Williams to select the site. The park's visitor center features an exhibit and video about Roger Williams and the founding of Rhode Island, as well as information about historic sites in Providence. The national memorial was authorized on October 22, 1965. The memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The site was developed in the late 1970s after the land acquisition was completed and the buildings on the land were demolished. It was the only unit of the National Park System in Rhode Island until 2014 when the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park was designated. National Register of Historic Places listings in Providence, Rhode Island Official National Park Service website: Roger Williams National Memorial

Location

Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
41.83061, -71.41070

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTRELIGION
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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Nearby Historic Sites

Sixth District Courthouse
Colonial
0.1 mi
Brick Schoolhouse
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Elizabeth Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
State Arsenal
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Fleur-de-Lis Studios
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Roger Williams National Memorial listed on the National Register?

Roger Williams National Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Roger Williams National Memorial?

Roger Williams National Memorial is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Roger Williams National Memorial?

The period of significance for Roger Williams National Memorial is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Roger Williams National Memorial?

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