Roger Williams National Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Roger Williams National Memorial
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Providence, Rhode Island |
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| Area | 4.56 acres (1.85 ha) |
| Built | 1636 |
| Architect | Norman Isham |
| Website | Roger Williams National Memorial |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000942 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Roger Williams National Memorial is a special park in Providence, Rhode Island. It celebrates the life of Roger Williams, a very important person in American history. He helped start the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations way back in 1636.
Roger Williams was a champion for religious freedom. This means he believed everyone should be able to practice their own religion without being told what to do. The park is located where his original settlement began. It's surrounded by North Main, Canal, and Smith Streets, and Park Row.
Contents
Welcome to Roger Williams National Memorial!
This park is a place to remember Roger Williams and his big ideas. It's a quiet, green space right in the middle of the city. You can learn about how Rhode Island was founded and why religious freedom matters.
What is the Memorial Like?
The Roger Williams National Memorial is about 4.5 acres big. That's like four and a half football fields! It sits near the Moshassuck River and is close to the Rhode Island State House. The park is also at the bottom of College Hill, where the first settlers lived.
Exploring the Park
The park has different areas to explore. The southern part is a big, open grassy space with trees all around. It's a great spot to relax. The northern part is more designed with special landscaping.
You'll find the visitor center in the 1736 Antram-Gray House. This old house is at the northeast corner of the park. There's also a parking area on the west side. Important spots in the northern section include Vernon Grove and the place where Roger Williams found a spring in 1636. This spring was a key reason he chose this spot for his new settlement.
The park's visitor center has cool exhibits and a video. They tell the story of Roger Williams and how Rhode Island began. You can also get information about other historic places in Providence.
A Look Back: How the Memorial Started
The idea for this national memorial became official on October 22, 1965. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The park itself was built in the late 1970s. This happened after the land was bought and old buildings were removed.
For a long time, this was the only park in Rhode Island managed by the National Park System. That changed in 2014 when the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park was created.
Gallery
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The 1736 Antram-Gray House serves as the park's Visitor Center
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The site commemorating the spring discovered in 1636 by Roger Williams
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A plaque at the site
See also
In Spanish: Monumento Conmmemorativo Nacional Roger Williams para niños
