John Brown House Museum
John Brown House
A Georgian-style mansion from 1788 that John Quincy Adams called “the most splendid house in North America.”
The John Brown House was the home of 18th-century merchant John Brown. Inside this three-story red-brick building, you’ll find fine Rhode Island furniture, porcelain, and silverware. Tours cover the Brown family’s shipping fortune and its ties to the slave trade, and the presentation is frank about that history. The house is run by the Rhode Island Historical Society. Tours last about an hour and tickets cost around $15. Opening days and tour times are limited, so check and book ahead. It sits at the south end of Benefit Street, on Power Street.
Opening hours
Approx. Apr–Nov, guided tours Tue–Sat (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Brown University
- John Hay Library
- Providence Athenaeum
- WaterFire & Waterplace Park
- Thayer Street
- RISD Museum
- Benefit Street
- First Baptist Church in America