things to do with kids in rhode island
Updated Tue 10/13/2026
PROVIDENCE
JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM
Updated
ABOUT
This three-story brick structure features a hipped roof, a portico supported by sandstone Doric columns, and richly detailed woodwork throughout its public rooms. The museum is managed by the Rhode Island Historical Society and showcases original furniture and artifacts from the Brown family estate, including Washington's Chariot, a carriage purportedly used by George Washington during his visit to Providence.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Families visiting the museum can explore meticulously restored rooms that illustrate 18th-century merchant life. The museum hosts a variety of exhibits, including the Dark Work Exhibit and the Charting History Exhibit, which explore Rhode Island's involvement in the Revolution and the slave trade.
GOOD TO KNOW
The John Brown House was built for John Brown, a prominent merchant and statesman who founded Brown University. The house was donated to the Rhode Island Historical Society in 1942 and has been restored to reflect its original colonial decor. The museum offers year-round access to its collections, which include significant artifacts and furniture from the Brown family estate, providing insights into the history of Rhode Island and its role in early American society.
UPCOMING EVENTS as of 10/18/2026
THIS WEEK: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 · COMING UP: THE 4 WEEKS AFTER
No dated events on our list for John Brown House Museum right now. Most visits here need no event — check hours on their site.
Full schedule at rihs.org/events →
Something wrong or out of date here? Tell us — we fix listings within a week.
On nearby this week and next
Next two weeks · from our weekly check of each venue's own calendar
- SUN 10/18 — Maker Studio: Mindful Moments - Breathing Buddies at Providence Children's Museum · Providence details
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- SUN 10/18 — Storytelling & Play at Studio Playground · Providence details
- SUN 10/18 — Comedy Hour at Studio Playground · Providence details
- SUN 10/18 — Play Creation at Studio Playground · Providence details
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- SUN 10/18 — Oak Avenue Home Haunt at Blackstone Valley Explorer (boat) · Pawtucket details
- SUN 10/18 — Trick or Treat Train at Blackstone Valley Explorer (boat) · Pawtucket details