Rhode Island Museums

If Rhode Island’s fantastic beaches and other outdoor parks weren’t enough for you or you simply to learn more about Rhode Island’s history then you would surely have a blast checking out the numerous museums that Rhode Island has to offer.
 

If you’re a history buff and love seeing exhibits on artifacts and architecture preserved from times past, then the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society Museum in Old Town Road might be the place for you! Every room in this historic site looks back at Bristol’s 300 year history. Group tours for this museum are available by appointment.   The Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum is also a must visit if you like the old world charm of English gardens and Manor houses. Blithewold boasts of being the most exquisite garden estate in New England. Blithewold is in Ferry Road, Bristol.

Also in Bristol is the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology. Located in Tower Street, this Museum is part of the Brown University and its main focus is the culture and arts of the African, Oceanic, Native American and Southeast Asian societies all throughout history. The museum is open from June until August. Bristol isn’t the only place filled with lots of interesting museums. Newport has its share of museums too. One of which is the Museum of Newport History in Thames Street. This museums bring Newport’s history to life with its audio-visual programs, historic photographs, brilliant paintings and a lot more interesting artifacts. The museum is opened from Mid-June to September and is closed from Christmas to Mid-April.

Another interesting museum located in Newport is the National Museum of American Illustration which is located in Vernon Court at Bellevue Avenue. The Museum exhibits original illustrations from the golden age of American illustration. Exhibits includes those of artists, Maxfield Parrish, N.C Wyeth, Norman Rockwell and 75 other artists in its collection. The museum is open all year round but be sure to reserve early for museum tours.

In Providence, you will find the Museum of National History and Cormack Planetarium. Located in Elmwood Avenue, the museum is the only natural history museum in Rhode Island and is home to the only planetarium in the state. The museum has regular events and exhibits and the planetarium has a Zeiss star projector that projects images of the stars on a domed ceiling. This museum is open daily.

Still in Providence, The Museum of Art at Rhode Island School of Design located in Benefit street has exhibits featuring art from Rome and Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, 19th Century American Decorative Art, 18th Century Europe, and The Middle Ages. The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday. Rhode Island has plenty of museums located throughout its entirety. A good idea is to ask the locals about their favorites. You never know, you just might discover Rhode Island’s hidden gem of a museum.