With Rhode Island’s rich history that goes all the way back to 1636, and its current status as the second most densely-populated state in the nation, it’s no surprise that the Ocean State has a wide variety of homes. From historic cabins to stunning estates, you’ll find some truly unique homes here. Take a look!
- The Fleur-de-Lys Studio in Providence is an excellent example of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Andrew Kutchling/flickr Built in 1885, this interesting building at 7 Thomas Street in Providence was the home to many artists throughout the years. The horror writer H.P. Lovecraft wrote about this house in one of his stories.
- The Breakers in Newport was a summer home for the Vanderbilt family.
Mathew and Heather/flickr Completed in 1895, this Italian Renaissance-style mansion has 125,339 square feet and includes 70 rooms. It’s hard to imagine that this home was merely a summer playground for one of America’s most wealthy families.
- The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House in Newport is one of the oldest homes in the state.
gr1ftr/flickr This home was completed in 1697, and went through many different owners throughout the years. In 1927 it was purchased by the Newport Historical Society, who renovated it and preserved it as a museum. The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House is a National Historic Landmark.
- Marble House in Newport was another mansion built for members of the Vanderbilt family.
Garrett Voight/flickr Considered a “summer cottage,” this home was completed in 1892 and cost $11 million. The most unique feature of this enormous home? The 500,000 cubic feet of marble used in its construction, which accounted for a whopping $7 million of the price.
- Belcourt Castle is one of the smaller summer cottages in Newport.
Wally Gobetz/flickr Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont was wildly rich, but he thought that the ostentatious flaunting of wealth in Newport was unseemly. When he built his “summer cottage,” he build a smaller abode - just a mere 50,000 square feet, and he placed the home so that a very small entrance on the side of the house faces the road. It’s said to be haunted.
- Clingstone is an eco-friendly mansion in Jamestown.
Wally Gobetz/flickr Originally built in the early 1900s as a “summer cottage” for the wealthy Wharton family, this cottage sat abandoned for many years until it was purchased by an architect in 1961 for the sum of $4,000. It’s been thoroughly renovated now, and an environmentally-friendly home. It’s heated with solar panels, and a wind turbine provides power to the home. It also has a seawater filtration system.
- Seaview Terrace was completed in 1925 in Newport.
Reading Tom/flickr The French Renaissance Revival-style home was the last “summer cottage” built in Newport. It has all the fancy details throughout, but it also has an interesting history. This home was famous as “Collinwood Mansion” - the creepy, haunted home of the Collins family in the TV show Dark Shadows.
- This abandoned farmhouse near Harmony was once an ordinary Rhode Island resident’s home.
Rick Payette/flickr Unlike the others on this list, this abandoned farmhouse isn’t famous, nor were its owners. Instead, it’s just a house with a history that no one knows. This humble abode reminds us that every home in Rhode Island is unique because of the people who live, love and die there.
Can you imagine living in these homes?
Andrew Kutchling/flickr
Built in 1885, this interesting building at 7 Thomas Street in Providence was the home to many artists throughout the years. The horror writer H.P. Lovecraft wrote about this house in one of his stories.
Mathew and Heather/flickr
Completed in 1895, this Italian Renaissance-style mansion has 125,339 square feet and includes 70 rooms. It’s hard to imagine that this home was merely a summer playground for one of America’s most wealthy families.
gr1ftr/flickr
This home was completed in 1697, and went through many different owners throughout the years. In 1927 it was purchased by the Newport Historical Society, who renovated it and preserved it as a museum. The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House is a National Historic Landmark.
Garrett Voight/flickr
Considered a “summer cottage,” this home was completed in 1892 and cost $11 million. The most unique feature of this enormous home? The 500,000 cubic feet of marble used in its construction, which accounted for a whopping $7 million of the price.
Wally Gobetz/flickr
Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont was wildly rich, but he thought that the ostentatious flaunting of wealth in Newport was unseemly. When he built his “summer cottage,” he build a smaller abode - just a mere 50,000 square feet, and he placed the home so that a very small entrance on the side of the house faces the road. It’s said to be haunted.
Originally built in the early 1900s as a “summer cottage” for the wealthy Wharton family, this cottage sat abandoned for many years until it was purchased by an architect in 1961 for the sum of $4,000. It’s been thoroughly renovated now, and an environmentally-friendly home. It’s heated with solar panels, and a wind turbine provides power to the home. It also has a seawater filtration system.
Reading Tom/flickr
The French Renaissance Revival-style home was the last “summer cottage” built in Newport. It has all the fancy details throughout, but it also has an interesting history. This home was famous as “Collinwood Mansion” - the creepy, haunted home of the Collins family in the TV show Dark Shadows.
Rick Payette/flickr
Unlike the others on this list, this abandoned farmhouse isn’t famous, nor were its owners. Instead, it’s just a house with a history that no one knows. This humble abode reminds us that every home in Rhode Island is unique because of the people who live, love and die there.
To enjoy some more of Rhode Island’s history, take this Rhode Island road trip to some of the nation’s oldest places.
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