Smith's Castle facts for kids
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Cocumscussoc Archeological Site
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Front elevation of Smith's Castle house, 2018
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| Location | Wickford, RI |
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| Nearest city | Warwick |
| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) (1972 NRHP nomination) 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) (1993 NHL nomination) |
| Built | 1678 (house) |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000010 (original) 93000605 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
| Boundary increase | April 12, 1993 |
| Designated NHL | April 12, 1993 |
Smith's Castle, built in 1678, is a historic house museum. You can find it near Wickford, a small village in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. This house is one of the oldest buildings in the entire state!
It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1993. This happened because of all the amazing old items found there. These items help us learn about the past. The area is officially called the Cocumscussoc Archeological Site. It is located right off U.S. Route 1 in Rhode Island.
Contents
Discovering Smith's Castle History
Smith's Castle was built in 1678. It replaced an older building that was destroyed during a big conflict. This conflict was called King Philip's War. The Narragansett Tribe was involved in this war.
The First Trading Post
The land where the house stands was known as Cocumscussoc. It was close to where Roger Williams had a trading post. Roger Williams was a very important person. He founded Providence Plantations and was a leader in the Baptist church.
He built his trading post here in 1637. He traded with the Narragansett people. They had given him the land. Later, Williams sold the trading post to Richard Smith. He used the money to travel to Great Britain. He wanted to get a special paper, called a charter, for Rhode Island.
Why It's Called a Castle
Richard Smith built a large, strong house. It was so well-protected that people started calling it a "castle." This is how it got its famous nickname.
In 1666, Richard Smith Jr. inherited the property. He invited soldiers from Massachusetts and Connecticut to use the house. This happened during King Philip's War.
Sadly, the house was burned down. This was in response to a battle called the Great Swamp Fight. The house you see today was built right after that. It was first a "saltbox" style house. Later, it was changed to look like it does now. About 40 soldiers who died during King Philip's War are buried on the property.
Later Owners and Museum Life
Over time, different families owned the property. These included the Updike, Congdon, and Fox families. Some famous people lived there, like Sarah Updike Goddard. Her children, Mary Katherine Goddard and William Goddard, were well-known printers. They printed newspapers and other important papers in colonial times.
For many years, Smith's Castle was a large dairy farm. In the 1900s, it became a museum. People worked to keep the house safe and fix it up. Now, visitors can explore this amazing piece of history.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Rhode Island
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Rhode Island
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Rhode Island
Images for kids
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Smith's Castle from an 1882 drawing
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Smith's Castle in a turn of the 20th century postcard
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Smith's Castle in 2008
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Smith's Castle in 2018
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Mass grave of forty unnamed men who died in the Great Swamp Fight or on the return march in December 1675
