6 Rhode Island Museums for the History Buffs…

Six Rhode Island Museum Destinations

Rhode Island has a long and colorful history, so it should be no surprise that it has a number of great museums. And because of its colonial past, many of these museums aren’t your typical museums with exhibits behind glass. In a lot of cases, you can visit the houses and buildings and see what the history was really like, instead of looking at illustrations and mock-ups. Here are just a few of the great museums you can find around the state.

1.  Museum of Natural History and Planetarium:

First off, there’s the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, located in Roger Williams Park in Providence. Located in the beautiful Roger Williams Park, the museum itself is almost 120 years old, and the planetarium has regular shows and events.

2.  Museum of Work and Culture :

If you’re interested in Rhode Island’s industrial history, check out the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket. This museum takes a look at Rhode Island’s once-booming textiles industry, from both a technical and a social viewpoint.

3.  Prescott Farms:

If you’re looking to get outside, stop by Prescott Farms in Middletown, a restored 18^th century farm featuring many period buildings, as well as a fully-functional windmill.

4.  Governor Stephen Hopkins House

In Providence, there’s the Governor Stephen Hopkins House. Stephen Hopkins, the colonial era governor of Rhode Island as well as one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. This early 18^th century house serves as an educational, hands-on look at that exciting era of American history.

5.  Newport Colony House

There are several different museums in Newport, including the Newport Colony House. This Georgian building, built in 1741, the Colony House was an important site of colonial Rhode Island revolutionary history, as well as serving as one of the principal filming locations for Steven Speilberg’s Amistad.

6. Museum of Newport History

Right across from the Newport Colony House is the Museum of Newport History, located in the Old Brick Market Building.The house was restored in the 1920s and 1930s, and now serves as a museum of Newport’s history, from the pre-Colombian period to the modern day.