Governor Stephen Hopkins House facts for kids
|
Governor Stephen Hopkins House
|
|
|
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
|
 |
|
| Location | Providence, Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Built | 1708 |
| Part of | College Hill Historic District (ID70000019) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000022 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1978 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 10, 1970 |
The Governor Stephen Hopkins House is a historic museum in Providence, Rhode Island. It is located at 15 Hopkins Street. This house was the home of Stephen Hopkins. He was a governor of the Colony of Rhode Island. Stephen Hopkins also signed the Declaration of Independence. This important document declared America's freedom.
Contents
Exploring the Hopkins House
_(cropped).jpg)
The Stephen Hopkins House has a unique L-shape. It is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. The main part of the house was built for Stephen Hopkins in 1742–1743. An attached two-story section, called an ell, was built even earlier, in 1707.
Inside the Historic Home
The main part of the house has four sections across the front and two sections deep. The main door you see today was added in the 1900s. The original main entrance was on the west side of the ell.
Inside the main part of the house, you would find the main living room on the right. Governor Hopkins' study, where he worked, was on the left. A hallway with stairs separated these rooms. Behind the living room was a "keeping room," which was a common family area. A small bedroom was behind the study. Upstairs, there are five bedrooms. Two of these bedrooms have fireplaces. The fireplaces downstairs have fancy wooden panels. The one in the living room is especially detailed.
History of the Hopkins House
Stephen Hopkins bought the original house in 1742. He then made it much larger, giving it the size it is today. This house was his home until he passed away in 1785. During his time living here, he was very active in politics. He served in the colonial assembly. He was also a judge in the colonial high court. From 1755 to 1757, he was the governor of the Colony of Rhode Island. This house is the only important building still standing that is connected to Stephen Hopkins' life.
Famous Visitors to the House
George Washington visited the house on April 5, 1776. He was traveling through Providence on his way to lead the Continental Army in Boston. Stephen Hopkins was in Philadelphia at the Continental Congress at the time. So, Hopkins' daughter entertained George Washington during his visit.
Moving the House Through Time
The house was not always in its current spot. It was first built on the corner of South Main Street and Hopkins Street. In 1809, it was moved partway up Hopkins Street. Then, in 1928, it was moved again to where it stands today. It is now on the south side of Hopkins Street.
Restoration and Museum Status
In the late 1920s, the house was carefully fixed up by Norman Isham. Today, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America owns the house. Their local Rhode Island chapter manages it. The house was open to the public as a museum before March 2020. It is not currently open, and there are no plans for it to reopen. The house was recognized as a special historic place in 1970. It was then named a National Historic Landmark in 1978.
Gallery
-
Photograph of the house taken before its final relocation to its current site.
-
NRHP plaque on the exterior of the house
-
Rear of the house, showing garden area
See also
In Spanish: Casa del gobernador Stephen Hopkins para niños
