Explore by State
Historic Site

Old State House

One of the six remaining original, Colonial-Era state houses and the site of Rhode Island's renouncement of the British Crown.

  • Parking
  • Accessible Parking
Rhode Island
150 Benefit Street Providence, RI 02903
Share
Providence, RI

The Old State House has played a pivotal role in Rhode Island's political life since the colonial period. It is one of just six surviving colonial-era state houses in America, three of which are in Rhode Island. In this building, Rhode Island renounced allegiance to the British Crown on May 4, 1776, the first of the thirteen colonies to do so.

In 1781, General George Washington was honored with a dinner and ball here. Later, in 1790, he returned to the Old State House as President. During this visit, he and Thomas Jefferson attended a banquet celebrating Rhode Island’s ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

More To Explore

Portrait of George Washington at Trenton
Biography
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson Portrait by Rembrandt Peale
Biography
Thomas Jefferson

What's Nearby

Explore more of The Liberty Trail by visiting these nearby attractions.

Historic Site
A three‑story brick brownstone building with symmetrical windows and a central stone‑framed entrance stands behind a black streetlamp.
Old State House

Providence, RI 02903

Colonial-Era state house of Rhode Island

0.00044528601774328
Old State House
Historic Site
Red facade of the Stephen Hopkins House in Rhode Island
Hopkins House

Providence, RI 02903

Former home of Stephen Hopkins

0.47161355514302
Governor Stephen Hopkins House
Historic Site
|
Museum
A large brick building with white trim and classical details stands behind a tall white fence, framed by autumn trees under a partly cloudy sky.
John Brown House

Providence, RI 02906

Former home of the founder of Brown University

0.7962141153569
John Brown House
Historic Site
|
Marker
Bronze marker on boulder to commemorate spot of the burning of the Gaspee
Gaspee Monument

Warwick, RI 02888

Site of the capture of the British crew of the Gaspee

7.458411512637
Gaspee Monument
Historic Site
|
Museum
A small fortress like brick building sits on a street corner, with arched wooden doors, battlements, and a nearby cannon.
Varnum Armory Museum

East Greenwich, RI 02818

Museum with artifacts dating to the 16th century

18.669945027696
Varnum Armory Museum
18.741201039217
The Major General Nathanael Greene Homestead
Historic Site
Colonial Home of General James Mitchell Varnum
Varnum House

East Greenwich, RI 02818

Former home of General James Mitchell Varnum

18.886790209194
James Mitchell Varnum House, East Greenwich, RI
18.88846471692
Site of the First Colonial Navy
Historic Site
|
Fort/Outpost
A small white historic building with four columns and green shutters stands at a roadside; the sign above the door reads “Kentish Guards 1774.”
Kentish Guards Armory

East Greenwich, RI 02818

Former armory and drill field of the Kentish Guard

19.001708946105
Kentish Guards Armory and Drill Field
20.452407968305
General Lafayette Marker, Bristol, Rhode Island (RI-3)
Historic Site
|
Fort/Outpost
Early 20th century postcard depicting Butts Hill Fort in Rhode Island
Butts Hill Fort

Portsmouth, RI 02871

Franco-American defensive position in Rhode Island

27.137030961212
Butts Hill Fort
28.131270938036
General Lafayette Marker, Tiverton, Rhode Island (RI-8)
Historic Site
|
Fort/Outpost
Fort Barton in Tiverton, Rhode Island
Fort Barton

02878

Fort named for Lt. Col. William Barton

28.16278706776
Fort Barton
Historic Site
|
Marker
Granite monument/structure in remembrance of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
1st Rhode Island Monument

Portsmouth, RI 02871

Monument dedicated to the men of the 1st Rhode Island

28.221585337006
1st Rhode Island Regiment Monument
Battlefield
|
State/County Park
Print of the Battle of Rhode Island.
Rhode Island

Portsmouth, RI 02871

First Franco-American operation of the Revolution

28.775699974749
Rhode Island
29.386157864156
Portsmouth Friends Meeting House