Unique Experiences

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You are bidding on 4 museum passes and 4 walking tour passes.

The Rhode Island Historical Society has released the schedule for its 2017 walking tour season, which starts on May 15 and continues through October 31.

The John Brown House was built in 1788 by merchant, patriot, politician, and slave trader John Brown, an instigator and participant in the Gaspee Affair. He and his family were some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the colonies and, then, the United States. The Browns are the namesake of Brown University.

Come walk through John Brown’s mansion (in the footsteps of George Washington, Abigail Adams, and other historical figures who once visited) and experience for yourself what it was like to live in the brand new United States at the end of the 18th century. The tour will discuss some of the most pressing issues of the day: slavery, the American Revolution, the China trade, and the major role Rhode Island played in the history of our nation.

Guests will choose to take a docent-led guided tour or a self-guided audio tour. Both the guided tour and the audio tour last approximately 60 minutes.

The RIHS’s signature Benefit Street tour in Providence will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, at 10 am (excluding May 29, July 4, and September 4 holidays). The tour departs from the John Brown House Museum (52 Power St., Providence).

Created in the mid-18th century “for the benefit of all,” this colonial thoroughfare shows off an enviable collection of 18th- and 19th-century wood-frame houses. Although its breathtaking historic structures can give the street the appearance of a museum mile, it is actually a vital urban neighborhood enhanced by ongoing preservation efforts since the 1950s. Thus, the tour itself tells a story that touches on the past, present, and future.

“The Rhode Island Historical Society is excited about the 2017 walking tour season. We’ve put some changes in place that will hopefully work better for both locals and visiting tourists, including a longer season, earlier start times, and Monday tours,” said Jennifer M. Wilson, Assistant Director of the Newell D. Goff Center for Education and Public Programs. “In addition to the changes to our everyday schedule, we’re rolling out some new routes and special themes with the intention of looking at Providence from a variety of vantage points.”