Rhode Island is old state with a lot of fascinating local history. And you don’t even have to visit one of our museums or designated historic sites to see it — all you have to do is go for a drive. If you’ve never cruised down the Great Road Historic District, you’re really missing out.

The Great Road Historic District is a historic district in Lincoln that commemorates part of the oldest highway in our state, which dates all the way back to 1683.
Cris D / TripAdvisor
Being able to drive down a stretch of road that's older than our country is pretty amazing.
The route parallels the Moshassuck River between a junction with Breakneck Hill Road and one with Front Street.
Wikipedia
Great Road served as the primary connection between Providence, Hartford, and Worcester during colonial times.
This stretch is only 0.6 miles, but it covers a lot of ground.
Doug Kerr / Flickr
No wonder it was listed on the on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

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You'll see the Arnold House, a stone home built in 1693 for Eleazer Arnold.
Rick Payette / Flickr
The house, which is now a museum, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other notable historic properties along the road are a stone-ender built in 1687, the 1812 Moffett Mill, the Israel Arnold House, and Hearthside.
Cris D / Flickr
Clearly, there's a lot to see in this short stretch of road.
Hearthside was the home of Stephen Hopkins Smith, who built it in 1810.
Wikipedia
Apparently, the house was built with lottery winnings in order to win the heart of a special woman. Unfortunately, Smith was unsuccessful, but the good news is that the home became a national historic spot.

Have you ever driven down the Great Road Historic District? It’s a fantastic way to learn more about our local history while enjoying the fun of a little road trip.

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Great Rd, Lincoln, RI 02865, USA