Rice City Historic District facts for kids
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Rice City Historic District
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Rice City Church
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Coventry, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1732 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000078 (original) 00000551 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 9, 1980 |
| Boundary increase | May 26, 2000 |
The Rice City Historic District is a special area in Coventry, Rhode Island. It's like a time capsule that shows us what a village looked like in the 1800s. This district stretches along Plainfield Pike, also known as Rhode Island Route 14. It includes many old buildings that tell stories of the past.
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Discovering Rice City's Past
What is a Historic District?
A historic district is a special part of a town or city. It has many buildings, places, or objects that are important because of their history or unique design. These areas are protected to help people remember and learn about the past. The Rice City Historic District helps us understand life in rural Rhode Island long ago.
Exploring Rice City Village
The main part of Rice City village is where Plainfield Pike meets Vaughn Hollow Road. You can also find a former business area at Fairbank's Corner. This is where Flat River Road (Rhode Island Route 117) crosses the Pike. Most of the buildings in the district are homes. They show popular styles from the past, like Greek Revival and Federal designs.
Important Buildings in Rice City
The village of Rice City has several important old buildings. One is the Rice Tavern, built in 1804. This tavern used to welcome travelers heading to Connecticut. The Rice City Church, built in 1846, is another key building. You can also find the Democrat Schoolhouse and the Obadiah Potter House, also from 1846, nearby on Vaughn Hill Road.
At the western edge of the district, the modern road changes slightly from the old one near Gibson Hill Road. Here, you can still see the remains of old farm settlements.
Protecting History: The National Register
The Rice City Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. Being on this list helps protect these special places. In 2000, another property that was accidentally left out was officially added to the district. This made sure all important historical parts of Rice City were recognized.
