Old State House (Providence, Rhode Island)

From colonial times to the mid-19th century, the Rhode Island General Assembly rotated meetings between the state's five county court houses; five of these former Rhode Island state houses survive today. In 1730, a statehouse house known as Country House was built on Meeting Street at the site now occupied by the Brick Schoolhouse. The wooden building burned down in December of 1758.[2]

In 1760 The General Assembly built the Old State House to replace the Country House. The building was constructed of flemish bond brick with rusticated brownstone quoins and wooden trim. It was largely finished by 1762 with some details being completed as late as 1771. Many of the Georgian details were borrowed from the larger and more ornate Newport Colony House. The building's interior, specifically, resembled the Colony House, following the traditional layout of English town halls.[2] Prior to 19th century alterations to the Providence State House, the two buildings resembled one another greatly.

After 1853 the state legislature ceased meeting at Kent, Washington and Bristol county courthouses, but continued to alternate its sessions between here and the Colony House in Newport into the early 20th century.

The building was extensively renovated and dramatically altered several times in the 19th century.

In 1840, the building was remodeled by Rhode Island architect, Russell Warren. This renovation involved the replacement of original windows with sash windows and the rearragement of portions of the interior.[3][2]

It was again altered in 1850, when Thomas A. Tefft of Tallman & Bucklin added the large tower facing Main Street, and a reorganization of nearly the entire interior. In 1867 James C. Bucklin designed an addition on Benefit Street that nearly doubled the size of the building. Both of these additions were sympathetic to the building's original design.[4] The building was refurbished in 1877–1883, to designs by Stone & Carpenter.[3]

The building served as the legislature's meeting place until 1901, when the new Rhode Island State House began being occupied. The building was completely finished in 1904, and it was decided to use the old building as a courthouse. Major internal alterations by Banning & Thornton were completed in 1906, and the building re-opened as the Sixth District Courthouse.[5]

At the Old State House on May 4, 1776, the General Assembly declared its independence renouncing its allegiance to the British crown, and the date is now celebrated as Rhode Island Independence Day. Debates about slavery occurred in the building in the late 18th century. George Washington visited the building in 1781 and 1790. Other visitors to the building in the 18th and 19th centuries included Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony.

By 1901 the new Rhode Island State House was occupied on Smith Hill and the legislature vacated the Old State House. The Old State House remained in use as a Court House until 1975.

In 1970 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places; the following year the building was listed a contributing structure to the College Hill Historic District.

The building is now home to the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission.

In 2020, the building underwent a renovation and restoration effort.[6]