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Wow! Was on an amazing tour given by Ann and it was amazing! I highly recommend you take a tour and learn about the amazing history about Rhode Island and the states capital! Great service and beautiful selection of art and historical artifacts! Wear comfortable shoes and enjoy the beauty of it all!
What an amazing piece of architecture. I loved their Christmas decor. The place is almost entirely marble. You can see where the newer parts are as there is visible caulking, cracks and uneven space. The old world builders were def next level! They even have tours
Rhode Island's State House is a beautiful building. According to one of their brochures, it's topped with the forth-largest marble dome in the in the world. We stopped by recently on a sunny, hot summer day. While it was a weekday, the building was quiet with very little visible activity. The exterior is quite stately and imposing. Tip: There's no real visitor center here, but you'll will find brochures on racks inside.
I took a Monday 10:00am guided tour at the Rhode Island State House, one of Rhode Island's most important landmarks. Free docent-led tours for groups of fewer than ten people are available Monday-Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tour was easy to reserve by completing the General Public Tour request form on the website, https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/civics-and-education/ri-state-house/state-house-tours. Groups of ten or more are required to request a tour reservation at least one week before their desired tour. The entrance to the building is located at 82 Smith Street. After doing a security check, you are free to explore the State House. The tour starts at the Visitor Center which offers various memorabilia for sale including postcards, magnets, and items designed and made in Rhode Island. It also has an array of books documenting Rhode Island's history. The tour started exactly at 10:00am. We took the elevator up to the 3rd floor to see the dome and public galleries for the House and Senate chambers. As we headed to the 2nd floor, our guide stopped at artifacts and paintings on the wall. The Senate Chamber is home to the 38 members of the Senate. The State Reception Room has a famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington and his shoes follow you through the room (try it out, wherever you are standing in the room, his shoes are pointing at you.) The House Chamber is home to the 75 members of the House of Representatives. The State Library is open to the public and the library ceiling was designed to look like the back of a leather-bound book. There is a display of moon rocks and a miniature Rhode Island flag, souvenirs from the first manned lunar landing in 1969. I thought this was so cool. As we headed back to the first floor, we stopped at the bronze replica of Rhode Island's state seal with the state's original name, "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" embedded on the rotunda level. The last stop was the Royal Charter Museum which contains many priceless documents and artifacts that represent Rhode Island's important place in history. There are also self-guided tours available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. QR codes to the State House audio tour in English and Spanish are posted throughout the building. Printed self-guided brochures are available in the Visitor Center located on the first floor of the State House, and in the State Library on the second floor. I learnt so much during this tour. It is truly a beautiful and remarkable building. The architects really thought everything out and how to design the building. Seeing the House and Senate chambers was so cool since I've only seen that on television. Feel free to take as many photos as well. As the Rhode Island's founders expressed, "Rare felicity of the times when it is permitted to think what you like and say what you think." I feel honored to be a Rhode Island resident and visited the State House.
It's a beautiful building in Providence. Love the front steps. Lots of wedding parties take pictures here. Relatively easy parking depending on the time of day. I did visit with my class once and had to bring one of my students who uses a wheel chair through the basement near the dumpsters...Not sure if it has updated its accessibility issues but I hope in 2024 thats not an issue anymore.
Beautiful, fine building with well-maintained, secure, and easy-to-navigate surroundings. Only complaint is that accessibility to each building is not clear for non-locals, and that it is difficult to access any kind of refreshments within the Capitol Hill area.
It was lit up in pink as it was breast cancer awareness month. After an in depth research found outvthat there was a fundraiser followed by fireworks. I was in there for the waterfire and just hung out after a meal to get a personal firework show with no crowd and one wanted to check for events locally. My wife was happy about it and that's all that matters.
After viewing the state house from Prospect Park, I made the relatively short walk to the state house itself. I was duly impressed by the marble building as well as the grounds as I walked around the perimeter of the entire property. I plan on returning some day in the future to take one of the weekday tours of the inside of the building.
Another beautiful historic state capitol building. I arrived about an hour before closing so I was too late for any guided tours. But I was able to wander around and take in the beauty of the building on my own self guided tour. The building is on the small side for a capitol building, which makes sense considering the size of the state. There is the rotunda, where you can look up to see all the beautiful murals on the ceiling and up in to the dome. Up on the second level you can walk around to see the various statues and read information about the state. The House and Senate chambers are on the 2nd floor as well, along with an exquisite library. My last stop was the Charter Museum on the first floor. A tiny museum with documents and artifacts explaining how Rhode Island became a state based on freedom from persecution for religious beliefs. The museum was a nice surprise since it's not common for a capitol building to contain a museum. My trip to Providence wouldn't have been complete without a stop at the state house.
Beautiful State House right inside the heart of Providence and can be seen from all directions of the city! Highly recommend checking it out and go on the weekdays to actually be let in.
A stately building. When you think about what a capital building is supposed to look like this is it. Unfortunately we did not get a chance to go inside of this public building but I could imagine what it would look like just by what I see from outside. Next time I visit it will definitely be a part of my things to do.
On my long drive along the east coast, I intended to hit every northeastern state. I pulled into Providence, Rhode Island to check out the life there. I found the town to have more of a small town feel. Much like Vermont and New Hampshire, this state is small with a population to match. I looked for a picturesque location to take good shots as a souvenir. I looked up the state house, and navigated over here. This state house stands tall, both due to its height and the fact that it sits atop a hill. Parking is found in front of the building, and was no problem to find. I took a few photos from several angles, and moved on. I saw a few people coming in a out of the building. I had to be in Connecticut at a certain time, so I didn't go inside. It was quite an impressive building.
Office of the governor! Just wow!! ... entirely cladded in white marble.. it's one of the few structure in the world to have a self supporting dome (like the Taj Mahal)... everything is so ornate! We got to tour the state house in its entirety... the reception room, House of Representatives and senate chamber with all the "Yea" and "Nay" voting buttons and my oh my the library is just stunning.. swirling wooden staircases take you to the upper levels where they have books mostly for researching legal matters. There was a replica of the liberty bell just outside the senate chamber. It's feels so luxurious much like a castle..... it's just magnificent and I stood there gazing in awe!
This is a beautiful marble dome and building in the Capitol Hill section of Providence. Many state offices are housed here such as the Governor's, Treasurer, House of Representatives, Senators, etc. They offer guided tours a few times a day (usually from 10a-3pm on weekdays) but you can also follow a self guided tour program and enjoy the inside of the building. read more
This was quite lovely and parking was easy to find, but I wouldn't place it in my top state capitols I've visited. It wasn't very busy on a dreary Thursday morning. There are guided tours, but I didn't see any reference guides or pamphlets for self-guided tours. I didn't get to see inside every nook and cranny, but I did wander around and take some photos. My favorite touch is the Anchor adorning the floor of the elevator. Tres apropos for the Ocean State's State House. read more
A beautiful neoclassical building that was built between 1891-1901; located in the heart of downtown Providence. This building can be seen from the Prospect Terrace park, it's also grand and magnificent up close. The dome is massive and it's the fourth largest marble dome in the world. The RI Senate is in the east wing and the RI House of Representatives are in the west wing; there are also the State library and Room. A gold statue called the Independent Man is perched on top of the grand dome. I have fond memories and even pictures of when I was younger in front of this building. It's a photogenic spot to take those Instagram photos. I recently stayed at the hotel next door and enjoyed seeing this building during my stay. We walked around the grounds and admired the architecture and history. Every December, they have a Christmas tree displayed in the rotunda. The grounds were nicely maintained; a beautiful structure and an important piece of Rhode Island history. If you're in Providence, I highly recommend walking the grounds and admire this historic landmark. read more
2 years ago
Wow! Was on an amazing tour given by Ann and it was amazing! I highly recommend you take a tour and learn about the amazing history about Rhode Island and the states capital! Great service and beautiful selection of art and historical artifacts! Wear comfortable shoes and enjoy the beauty of it all! read more
What an amazing piece of architecture. I loved their Christmas decor. The place is almost entirely marble. You can see where the newer parts are as there is visible caulking, cracks and uneven space. The old world builders were def next level! They even have tours read more
Rhode Island's State House is a beautiful building. According to one of their brochures, it's topped with the forth-largest marble dome in the in the world. We stopped by recently on a sunny, hot summer day. While it was a weekday, the building was quiet with very little visible activity. The exterior is quite stately and imposing. Tip: There's no real visitor center here, but you'll will find brochures on racks inside. read more
3 years ago
I took a Monday 10:00am guided tour at the Rhode Island State House, one of Rhode Island's most important landmarks. Free docent-led tours for groups of fewer than ten people are available Monday-Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tour was easy to reserve by completing the General Public Tour request form on the website, https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/civics-and-education/ri-state-house/state-house-tours. Groups of ten or more are required to request a tour reservation at least one week before their desired tour. The entrance to the building is located at 82 Smith Street. After doing a security check, you are free to explore the State House. The tour starts at the Visitor Center which offers various memorabilia for sale including postcards, magnets, and items designed and made in Rhode Island. It also has an array of books documenting Rhode Island's history. The tour started exactly at 10:00am. We took the elevator up to the 3rd floor to see the dome and public galleries for the House and Senate chambers. As we headed to the 2nd floor, our guide stopped at artifacts and paintings on the wall. The Senate Chamber is home to the 38 members of the Senate. The State Reception Room has a famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington and his shoes follow you through the room (try it out, wherever you are standing in the room, his shoes are pointing at you.) The House Chamber is home to the 75 members of the House of Representatives. The State Library is open to the public and the library ceiling was designed to look like the back of a leather-bound book. There is a display of moon rocks and a miniature Rhode Island flag, souvenirs from the first manned lunar landing in 1969. I thought this was so cool. As we headed back to the first floor, we stopped at the bronze replica of Rhode Island's state seal with the state's original name, "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" embedded on the rotunda level. The last stop was the Royal Charter Museum which contains many priceless documents and artifacts that represent Rhode Island's important place in history. There are also self-guided tours available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. QR codes to the State House audio tour in English and Spanish are posted throughout the building. Printed self-guided brochures are available in the Visitor Center located on the first floor of the State House, and in the State Library on the second floor. I learnt so much during this tour. It is truly a beautiful and remarkable building. The architects really thought everything out and how to design the building. Seeing the House and Senate chambers was so cool since I've only seen that on television. Feel free to take as many photos as well. As the Rhode Island's founders expressed, "Rare felicity of the times when it is permitted to think what you like and say what you think." I feel honored to be a Rhode Island resident and visited the State House. read more
2 years ago
It's a beautiful building in Providence. Love the front steps. Lots of wedding parties take pictures here. Relatively easy parking depending on the time of day. I did visit with my class once and had to bring one of my students who uses a wheel chair through the basement near the dumpsters...Not sure if it has updated its accessibility issues but I hope in 2024 thats not an issue anymore. read more
Beautiful, fine building with well-maintained, secure, and easy-to-navigate surroundings. Only complaint is that accessibility to each building is not clear for non-locals, and that it is difficult to access any kind of refreshments within the Capitol Hill area. read more
5 years ago
It was lit up in pink as it was breast cancer awareness month. After an in depth research found outvthat there was a fundraiser followed by fireworks. I was in there for the waterfire and just hung out after a meal to get a personal firework show with no crowd and one wanted to check for events locally. My wife was happy about it and that's all that matters. read more
After viewing the state house from Prospect Park, I made the relatively short walk to the state house itself. I was duly impressed by the marble building as well as the grounds as I walked around the perimeter of the entire property. I plan on returning some day in the future to take one of the weekday tours of the inside of the building. read more
Another beautiful historic state capitol building. I arrived about an hour before closing so I was too late for any guided tours. But I was able to wander around and take in the beauty of the building on my own self guided tour. The building is on the small side for a capitol building, which makes sense considering the size of the state. There is the rotunda, where you can look up to see all the beautiful murals on the ceiling and up in to the dome. Up on the second level you can walk around to see the various statues and read information about the state. The House and Senate chambers are on the 2nd floor as well, along with an exquisite library. My last stop was the Charter Museum on the first floor. A tiny museum with documents and artifacts explaining how Rhode Island became a state based on freedom from persecution for religious beliefs. The museum was a nice surprise since it's not common for a capitol building to contain a museum. My trip to Providence wouldn't have been complete without a stop at the state house. read more
A stately building. When you think about what a capital building is supposed to look like this is it. Unfortunately we did not get a chance to go inside of this public building but I could imagine what it would look like just by what I see from outside. Next time I visit it will definitely be a part of my things to do. read more
10 years ago
On my long drive along the east coast, I intended to hit every northeastern state. I pulled into Providence, Rhode Island to check out the life there. I found the town to have more of a small town feel. Much like Vermont and New Hampshire, this state is small with a population to match. I looked for a picturesque location to take good shots as a souvenir. I looked up the state house, and navigated over here. This state house stands tall, both due to its height and the fact that it sits atop a hill. Parking is found in front of the building, and was no problem to find. I took a few photos from several angles, and moved on. I saw a few people coming in a out of the building. I had to be in Connecticut at a certain time, so I didn't go inside. It was quite an impressive building. read more
9 years ago
Office of the governor! Just wow!! ... entirely cladded in white marble.. it's one of the few structure in the world to have a self supporting dome (like the Taj Mahal)... everything is so ornate! We got to tour the state house in its entirety... the reception room, House of Representatives and senate chamber with all the "Yea" and "Nay" voting buttons and my oh my the library is just stunning.. swirling wooden staircases take you to the upper levels where they have books mostly for researching legal matters. There was a replica of the liberty bell just outside the senate chamber. It's feels so luxurious much like a castle..... it's just magnificent and I stood there gazing in awe! read more
What a gorgeous building and the grounds are spectacular. If you are staying at the Renaissance Hotel on a sunny day...you can really capture some beautiful photos. Even if you're walking around Providence you can always capture some wonderful views of the State Building. The inside of the building is also gorgeous...so if they are open and offering tours....schedule an hour out of your day and make this happen.... read more
Really amazing, historical place to explore. Even if you don't do the guided tours which start on the hour (9am and after) during the weekdays, it's a great building to visit. The architecture in it is incredible! We joined the tour for a bit and it was interesting hearing about the pieces of history. The state room, charter museum and state library were the highlights of the building and also seeing the dome from the inside was really impressive. Definitely worth the visit if you like historical things. read more
11 years ago
The capital building is very impressive! It's very large and it's quite a sight to be seen. You can tour the building, but when we were there it was closed unfortunately. It's worth checking out even from the outside though. Walk up the marble steps and wave to your supporters from the built in podium! read more
One of our state's most iconic buildings. As a tourist, they offer free, guided tours M-F (except holidays) year-round from 8:30-4:30. Tours include a replica of Philly's Liberty Bell, a peek at Gilbert Stuart's famous and invaluable portrait of George Washington, and the Rotunda to gaze at one of the world's largest, self-supported marble domes. As a citizen, come after hours from Jan-June, Tues-Thurs, while the General Assembly is in session to get a behind the scenes look at democracy in action. Observe debate from the House or Senate galleries. Testify before a committee about an issue you care about. Seriously - civic engagement is a rush. And our elected officials are more approachable than you might think. As an urban explorer, refer to the above! Good times to be had by all night or day - but especially January through whenever the legislative session comes to a close (May or June). The architecture is incredible. And there are some sweet spots to grab beer or bite to eat nearby on Smith St. And who knows - maybe bump rump with one of your elected officials. Whether you've never been before or haven't been since your 4th grade class trip - now's the time to get yourself to Smith Hill to channel your inner history and politics nerd and appreciate some stunning architecture. What would make it a 5? Better options for public parking, handicap accessibility, more and better labeled bathrooms, and functional wifi. read more
The striking building sets majestically on a hill overlooking Providence and creates an impressive view from the edge of town. The traditional architecture features a domed design modeled after the US Capitol Building in Washington. It was built from white Georgian marble and is the fourth largest self-supported marble dome in the world. The copious grounds surrounding the capitol add to the impressive appearance, especially the long sloping lawn leading down toward Gaspee St. The visitor entrance is on the Smith St. side. The security staff made me aware of the existence of a self-guided tour, the write-up for which could be found in the library. I found that it was worth making use of this as it allowed a self-directed, self-paced visit that emphasized the items of greatest interest to me. I had a limited amount of time and this allowed me to make the best use of it. One of the most interesting aspects of the building for me included the rotunda, which allowed some good looks at the central architecture of the capitol. The North Portico entry featured some war paraphernalia including a cannon used to help repel Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg and flags used in battles dating back to the Revolution. In the South Portico was displayed a replica of the Liberty Bell, filled crack and all. Both the House and Senate legislative chambers were also relatively impressive. An original copy of Rhode Island native Gilbert Stuart's recognizable portrait of George Washington could be seen hanging in the State Reception Room. The portraits of past governors provided interesting viewing as they do in most state capitol buildings. One governor, Edward DiPrete, was convicted of racketeering, extortion, and bribery in 1999 and yet, interestingly, his portrait still hangs with the others. In general, this building should be on your Providence itinerary. I would eventually like to see all 50 state capitol buildings so this visit was well worth my time. But even if this is not your sort of thing, if seeing this site evokes any interest at all, I highly recommend spending an hour to appreciate the contents, architecture and ambiance. read more
Definitely worth a stop. You will learn that this dome is the 4th largest free standing dome in the world. What is larger? Glad you asked.... St Peters in the Vatican, Taj Mahal in India, and St Paul's in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Besides the dome which is impressive, you should tour the state and senate houses and take pictures from the balconies. Also, be sure to see the old library on the second floor with the cool old books and old tall ladders, and a good view from the balcony to the outside. Parking isn't easy, but there are metered parking spots around by the mall or you can park in the covered parking at the mall and walk over. read more
This is a really beautiful structure and worth visiting while in Rhode Island. It's within walking distance of the nearby Holiday Inn if you're staying there and not too far from a large shopping mall. The grounds are well maintained and there's plenty to look at and take in - great place to take kids to teach them a little about state government. read more
10 years ago
Very impressive and nice decor. Outside was kept clean and had a little memorial for the military branches of those who served and continue to serve. There two statues of political figures by the entrance. Love the landscaping. read more
Sadly, the building was closed to visitors when I went, so I wasn't able to get inside, and can't comment on that element in my review. However, from outside, the building is majestic to look at and photograph. It's in a central location in Providence, perched up on a hill, so it's visible from quite long distances away. Built in the late 19th Century, the building is a National Historic Site, and with good reason. The architecture, like many state buildings, is very beautiful, similar to the Capitol Building in DC. Walking up the steps in front of the building left me awe-struck at the sheer scale of it, and this made me all the more disappointed I couldn't get inside and look around. Ah well, next time I'm in RI, I'll be back. read more
Beautiful grounds and lovely building. Took pictures on the middle of a nice Saturday afternoon and it was empty. For those photographers out there, it seems to be a pretty public space. In the afternoon a noticed some wedding photos being shot on the stairs. I was able to shoot freely. In the evening I returned with my tripod and shot freely again. A guard was walking around the building at that time (9:00PMish), looked at me and kept walking so.....I guess that means they are okay with photographers/tripods. read more
10 years ago
Don't miss this while in providence! While seeing it from the outside is already impressive, make sure you go inside. Go for the free tour at 9, 10, 11, 12, 1pm or 2pm, 5 days per week. Our guide was very knowledgeable, and really helped bring the place alive and shared interesting history. The library was very cool, as were the chambers where the legislature holds session. Apparently 3 times a week you can go there to see legislative sessions live, and hear politicians argue it out (and probably make up again and make secret deals when the cameras are off). Very beautiful dome. read more
10 years ago
My friend and I decided to check out Providence for the weekend. We live in NYC and the bus was just 3 hours and cost $10. So why not? I strongly recommend coming to Providence. The State House was among our best highlights. Not only is the domed building majestic, but our guide was so friendly and engaging. Even though we were the only 2 on the tour, she still spent an hour showing us everything and telling us the history, as if we were valued guests. If you live in NYC you owe it to yourself to take a weekend away and check out Providence and the State House. We stayed at Providence Hostel, that cost us just $35 and was very cozy. The State House tour was free, so for under $100 we had a great weekend away (and that price included both transportation and accommodation, so you really don't have any excuse). read more
11 years ago
A great place to take out of towners and centrally located so you're not going too out of your way. The state house is an architectural beauty and is packed with history. Make sure you check out the library where you can see a real life moon rock and the governors state room where one of the only portraits of George Washington sitting down is on display. You can even take your wedding pictures here! read more
7 years ago
11 years ago
I think the State House is beautiful! It reminds me of the Capital building in Washington D.C.! I'm fortunate to live in Providence and have a very nice view of the State House! read more
9 years ago
9 years ago
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4 years ago
