Roger Williams National Memorial

Roger Williams, fleeing religious persecution in England and Massachusetts Bay Colony, founded Providence here in 1636 in what is called the birthplace of religious freedom in the United States. The original inhabitants, the Narragansett and Wampanoag, had lived in this area for thousands of years and taught the early settlers much about living on the shores of what was once a great saltwater cove. Later, Providence bustled with maritime trade and played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution. Nearby are places tied to this history, including the John Brown House Museum, Brown University, the First Baptist Church in America gathered by Roger Williams in 1638, the Old State House where Rhode Island declared its independence on May 4, 1776, Prospect Park at Roger Williams's final resting place, the Antram-Gray House, Waterplace Park, and the Rhode Island State House with the 1663 Rhode Island Charter.

Providence, Rhode Island · United States