Old State House, Providence

The Old State House is a Georgian civic building completed in 1762, when Rhode Island was still a British colony. Modeled on the earlier Colony House in Newport, its original block features red brick, rusticated brownstone trim, balanced windows, and a hipped roof. Architect Thomas A. Tefft added the tall entrance and bell tower in 1850–51, creating the façade seen today.

For nearly 150 years, the building served as a meeting place for colonial and state legislators. On May 4, 1776, the General Assembly passed the Act of Renunciation here, ending allegiance to King George III two months before the national Declaration of Independence. Later decisions included the 1784 Gradual Emancipation Act and the repeal of restrictions on Roman Catholic voting rights. George Washington attended public celebrations in the building in 1781 and 1790.

Inside, the former Council Chamber retains rare mid-18th-century details, including fluted Ionic pilasters, carved paneling, and a classical cornice. A large brick-and-brownstone wing designed by James C. Bucklin was added in 1867 for court and government offices. After the legislature left in 1901, the building became a courthouse. It now houses the state’s Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and reopened in 2026 after accessibility upgrades and restoration work.