Pop quiz – which town in the United States has the oldest continuously celebrated Independence Day festivities? Yes, you and the title are right – it’s Bristol, Rhode Island! Which is just one of many fascinating historical facts about this charming waterfront town. The town is a deep water seaport named after Bristol, England with history dating back to 1620.
Today, the town is home to over 20,000 Bristolians and makes for a perfect destination for anyone looking to quench their history thirst. Here are three historical places we recommend you visit while in the area:
The Bristol Waterfront Historic District encompasses the original heart of Bristol and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The buildings scattered throughout the district offer a glimpse at the various architectural styles that graced the town over its three-century existence.
The district offers access to the waterfront, restaurants, shops, and a few of the town’s major buildings. Some of which are even listed on the National Register, such as the Bristol County Jail and the Bristol County Courthouse.
This breath-taking property spans across 30 acres of land and consists of a 45-room mansion from the 1890s. It also offers views of the Narragansett Bay and access to an arboretum of over 300 species of woody plants. The property was initially built as a summer retreat by Augustus and Bessie Van Wickle, who amassed their fortune in the coal-mining business.
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Though once used as a mere summer retreat, the grounds are now open and available for the public’s enjoyment. Access to the mansion is offered between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. from early April to mid-October, except Mondays.
The mansion’s earliest construction dates back to 1754 and was subsequently expanded over the years by its many owners, including Governor William Bradford. The grounds, however, have been farmed since the late 1600s. The 127-acre property is now owned and operated by a nonprofit organization and is open to the public daily (except on holidays) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The property has been converted into a bed and breakfast and offers a variety of room types in several houses throughout the grounds.
But, the property is most frequently visited by day-trippers who come to marvel at the house, walk the peaceful grounds in silence, or partake in the farmers market on Saturdays.
The beauty of the town is that you can spend just one day and have enough time to fill it with historical visits. But, at the same time, you can spend an entire weekend and feel like it wasn’t long enough.
Have you ever visited Bristol, RI? What was your favorite piece of the town’s history?
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