Roger Williams National Memorial

After driving north from Virginia to Connecticut we were heading towards Massachusetts.  The easy way would have bypassed Rhode Island, but part of the reason for this trip was so that I could cross off the last of the lower 48 states that I hadn't yet visited, so we definitely took the longer route through Rhode Island.  In addition driving through Providence would give us the opportunity to visit Roger Williams National Memorial.

Not many people remember this early American figure, but I had a professor in college that really appreciated Roger Williams and make sure that his students did too.  Roger Williams was expelled from the Massachusetts colony and ended up founding the Rhode Island colony after purchasing the land from the Native American inhabitants.  He was a Christian but proclaimed that those of other beliefs were free to worship in their own way instead of being forced to join the state church.

Roger Williams National Memorial commemorates the life of the founder of Rhode Island and a champion of the ideal of religious freedom. Williams, banished from Massachusetts for his beliefs, founded Providence in 1636. This colony served as a refuge where all could come to worship as their conscience dictated without interference from the state.
--from Roger Williams NM website

Nestled in the middle of Providence, Rhode Island the memorial is the size of a city park.  It is land reclaimed from industrial development and not directly associated with Williams.  Rather it serves as a place to remember him in the middle of the state that he helped to establish.

From the small parking lot you take a short walk over to the visitor center building.

Before we got there we passed by a small garden area that was supposed to demonstrate Native American farming techniques.  Unfortunately it looked like dirt was the only thing being cultivated.

The front door of the building is just across the sidewalk from the road.

Inside the visitor center you'll find several displays about Roger Williams and the early settlers of the colony.

The early city of Providence had parcels of land that were all of equal size.  It was also interesting to note that the city wasn't built around a central church or meeting house like many of the old towns that we later saw in Massachusetts.

 I didn't realize until I read this sign that there are no contemporaneous images or descriptions of what Williams looked like

The exhibits also connected the ideas of Roger Williams to a variety of modern movements and discussions.  It was an interesting connection to make.  I can see both sides of the question as some would argue his ideas did lead to these modern movements and others would argue that they are not directly connected.

Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit other sites in Providence and had to content ourselves with just walking around the memorial.

There are a number of picnic tables if you want to each your lunch at the memorial.

The memorial really is a beautiful park to walk around and enjoy.

The steeple...is the First Baptist Church in America, gathered by Roger Williams in 1638....  After settling in Massachusetts Bay Colony, his separatist views threatened colonial leadership, and he was banished.  Williams founded a new community called Providence.  Here, he insisted that civil rather than religious law would govern and that "all were free to walk as their conscience persuades them."
--from exhibit signage

In a letter to the governor of Connecticut in 1670 Williams wrote that "forced worship stinks in God's nostrils," and I'm sure he was referencing not only traditions in England but also in may other American colonies with established churches.

Most of the paths were well shaded.

This site was the location of a freshwater spring that apparently served to attract Williams to this site.  his house was originally located across the road.

I found it interesting, but not surprising that there were prominent Jewish settlers in Providence.

After one last look around the park we headed off north towards Massachusetts.

If you are in the neighborhood of Rhode Island it isn't that far to drive through Providence (the state is quite small) and stop by Roger Williams National Memorial.  If you'd like to see the rest of the pictures I took you can view this album.

~Matt