Roger Williams National Memorial
Roger Williams National Memorial is located in Rhode Island
Roger Williams National Memorial
Roger Williams National Memorial is located in the United States
Roger Williams National Memorial
LocationProvidence, Rhode Island
Coordinates41°49′49″N 71°24′39″W / 41.83038°N 71.41089°W / 41.83038; -71.41089
Area4.56 acres (1.85 ha)[1]
Built1636 (1636)
ArchitectNorman Isham
WebsiteRoger Williams National Memorial
NRHP reference No.66000942[2]
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966

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.[3] The park is bounded by North Main, Canal, and Smith Streets, and Park Row.

Description

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[4][5][lower-alpha 1] at the northeast corner, and a parking area on the west side. Major features in the northern section include the Bernon Grove and the site of the spring which prompted Williams to select the site.[6]: p.1 

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.

Administrative history

The national memorial was authorized on October 22, 1965.[6]: p.55  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.[6]: p.56  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.[1][lower-alpha 2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 The National Parks: Index 2012-2016 (PDF). Office of Communications and the Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs National Park Service. 2016. p. 93. ISBN 978-0160932090. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  3. ↑ Gaustad, Edwin S. (2005-05-15). Roger Williams. Oxford University Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-19-976053-4.
  4. ↑ Woodward, Wm. McKenzie (2003). PPS/AIAri Guide to Providence Architecture. Photography by William Jagger Photography (1st ed.). Providence, Rhode Island: Providence Preservation Society and American Institute of Architects Rhode Island Chapter. p. 134. ISBN 0-9742847-0-X.
  5. ↑ National Park Service, Antram-Grey House, accessed 1 April 2017
  6. 1 2 3 "Cultural Landscape Report for Roger Williams National Memorial". National Park Service. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-28. Alt URL

Notes

  1. ↑ Also known as the William Antram House
  2. ↑ Touro Synagogue National Historic Site in Newport is an affiliated area of the National Park Service, but not formally part of the system.
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Parks in Providence, Rhode Island

Burnside Park · India Point Park · Prospect Terrace Park · Roger Williams National Memorial · Roger Williams Park · Waterplace Park

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