Exploring New England’s Past: Beautiful Historic Massachusetts & Rhode Island Architecture
New England is home to some of the most beautiful architecture in the world. Massachusetts and Rhode Island are no exception. Both of these gorgeous states are comprised of historic towns with charming historic buildings. Many of these buildings are over well over 100 years old.
Below I have compiled an assortment of beautiful pictures taken around Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This is just a glimpse of several of the mesmerizing historic sites you will find. Everywhere you turn, especially in Boston, you are surrounded by gorgeous architecture of the past.
Enjoy this step back in time…
Faneuil Hall
Built in 1742
Boston, Massachusetts
Located on The Freedom Trail
Significance: Faneuil has served as a meeting hall since 1742. Many prominent figures have made speeches (regarding America’s independence from Great Britain) here, including Samuel Adams.
King’s Chapel
Built in 1686
Boston, Massachusetts
Located on The Freedom Trail
Significance: King’s Chapel was founded back in 1686 and still uses the same pulpit (speaker’s stand). It is the oldest being used in the US.
Park Street Church
Built in 1809
Boston, Massachusetts
Located on The Freedom Trail
Significance: William Lloyd Garrison gave an anti slavery speech at this church on July 4, 1829.
Massachusetts State House
Built in 1798
Boston, Massachusetts
Located on The Freedom Trail
Significance: Designed by Charles Bulfinch, a prominent architect at the time. The beautiful dome is now covered in 23K gold to prevent leaks. The land was formerly owned by the 1st governor, John Hancock.
Old South Meeting House
Built in 1729
Boston, Massachusetts
Located on The Freedom Trail
Significance: Originally established as a Puritan meeting house. Many historic figures have passed through including Judge Sewall (he apologized for the Salem Witch Trials at this meeting house) and Benjamin Franklin (he was baptized here).
Old State House
Built in 1713
Boston, Massachusetts
Located on The Freedom Trail
Significance: This was the site of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence (1776).
Old North Church
Built in 1723
Boston, Massachusetts
Located on The Freedom Trail
Significance: Old North Church is Boston’s oldest church building. This is also where the phrase “One if by land, and two, if by sea” originated (where Robert Newman signaled the arrival of the British with the lighting of 2 lanterns).
Read more about the historical significance of The Freedom Trail
First Church
Built in 1629
Salem, Massachusetts
Location: 316 Essex Street
Significance: First Church is one of the oldest operating Protestant churches in the US.
Old Town Hall
Built in 1816
Salem, Massachusetts
Location: 32 Derby Square
Significance: Designed by Charles Bulfinch (also designed the Massachusetts State House), a notable architect of his time. Old Town Hall is the oldest building still standing in the city. Side note: A scene from the 90’s Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus, filmed here.
The Ropes Mansion
Built in 1727
Salem, Massachusetts
Location: 318 Essex Street
Significance: Former home of Nathaniel Ropes, a judge in the Salem Witch trials. Hocus Pocus fans will also recognize this beautiful home as Allison’s house in the film.
The Witch House
Believed to have been built in the 1660-1670s
Salem, Massachusetts
Location: 310 Essex Street
Significance: The Witch House is the only building connected to the Salem Witch Trials that stills stands today. It was the former home of Judge Corwin.
A full guide to Salem historic sites
National Monument to our Forefathers
Built between 1859-1889
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Location: Allerton Street
Significance: This grand statue (including the pedestal it reaches a height of 150 feet!) was built to commemorate the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth. It is the largest solid granite monument in the US. On a side note, the Statue of Liberty is 151 feet tall (305 feet with the pedestal).
1st Parish Street
Built in 1637
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Location: 19 Town Square
Significance: 1st Parish Church is the oldest continuously running church in New England.
Widener Library at Harvard University
Built in the early 1900’s
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Location: Harvard Yard (2 Kirkland Street)
Significance: Built as a tribute to Harry Widener, one of the passengers on the Titanic.
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
Built in 1807
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Location: 10 Garden Street
Significance: The institute was formed when Harvard University and Radcliffe college combined. Radcliffe College was an all women’s university which operated from 1879-1999.
Find out how you can take a free tour of Harvard
Lizzie Borden House
Built in 1845
Fall River, Massachusetts
Location: 230 2nd Street
Significance: In 1892, Lizzie Borden was acquitted of murdering her parents with an ax. To this day, no one is sure of the real story and speculation continues today as to who really murdered her parents. The house now operates as a bed and breakfast, in addition to daily tours through each room. Read more about Lizzie Borden house tours.
Pilgrim Monument
Built from 1907-1910
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Location: 1 High Pole Hill Road
Significance: This grand 252 feet tall structure was built to commemorate the landing of the Pilgrims in Provincetown.
Rhode Island State House
Built from 1895-1904
Providence, Rhode Island
Location: 82 Smith Street
Significance: Rhode Island’s beautiful capitol building is home to the 4th largest self supported marble dome in the world. Tours available
John Brown House
Built in 1788
Providence, Rhode Island
Location: 52 Power Street
Significance: Former home of John Brown, one of the most famous slave trading families in Rhode Island.
Nightingale Brown House
Built in 1792
Providence, Rhode Island
Location: 357 Benefit Street
Significance: Located in the College Hill section of Providence, this historic home which once belonged to Nicholas Brown Jr. (the son of Nicholas Brown Sr., the co-founder of Brown University), is now home to the Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage at Brown University.
Providence Athenaeum Library
Built in 1838
Providence, Rhode Island
Location: 251 Benefit Street
Significance: This historic library, the 4th oldest in the US, is now open to the public.
Rufus Waterman House
Built in 1830
Providence, Rhode Island
Location: Benefit Street
Significance: This historic house is located on Providence’s Benefit Street, one of oldest streets in town.
Explore more history on Benefit Street
The Breakers Mansion
Built from 1888-1892
Newport, Rhode Island
Location: 44 Ochre Point Avenue
Significance: The most famous of the historic Newport Mansions, The Breakers was the summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt. This masterpiece comes in at an over-the-top 138,000+ square feet!
Salve Regina University
Built in 1892
Newport, Rhode Island
Location: 100 Ochre Point Avenue
Significance: This gorgeous university is located on Newport’s beautiful CliffWalk. Ochre Court, the administrative building, is the 2nd largest of the Newport Mansions.
St. George’s School
Built in 1896
Middletown, Rhode Island
Location: 372 Purgatory Road
Significance: A private boarding school founded in 1896 that has a magnificent location on a hill overlooking the gorgeous Rhode Island coast. Second Beach in Middletown (pictured below) provides great views of this grand building.
For more information on each of the sites listed above, please read the following articles:
- Boston’s Freedom Trail
- Salem, Massachusetts
- Plymouth, Massachusetts
- Harvard University
- Fall River, Massachusetts
- Provincetown, Massachusetts
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Newport, Rhode Island
Have you visited any of the sites on this list? What are some of your favorite historical places in Massachusetts and Rhode Island?
