Explore the waterways of Providence at the Rhode Island State Archives

Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea invites Rhode Islanders to come explore the evolution of waterways in Providence and the impacts of these changes over time at the Rhode Island State Archives exhibit: Waterways: Past and Present. The new exhibit uses historic maps, photographs, and other archival documents to illustrate how bodies of water have transformed from colonial thoroughfares to the civic gathering spaces they are today. The exhibit also features indigenous cultural objects on loan from the Tomaquag Museum.

“The waterways in Providence and throughout the state impact so many aspects of our communities,” said Secretary Gorbea. “I am excited to share the complex history of our waterways by opening the time capsule that is our State Archives, and explore the complex history of how bodies of water have evolved and impacted our state and how that impact will be felt by future generations.”

The images below illustrate just how much Providence has been shaped geographically and culturally by its surrounding waterways.

1660 map of Providence and that area today.

1870 map of Providence and that area today.

The Washington Bridge when its construction was completed in 1930 and on Friday, March 1, 2019.

The Waterman Red Bridge and Henderson Bridge, which replaced it, on Friday, March 1, 2019.

The Smith Street Bridge in 1907 and the corner of Smith and State Street on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

The Crawford Street Bridge was named world’s widest bridge in the 1988 Guinness Book of World Records. It was narrowed in 1982; this is what the view looks like as of Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Waterways: Past and Present is part of Year of the City: The Providence Project, a yearlong showcase of Providence’s history and neighborhoods curated through exhibits, tours, and performances. Additional programming and events will take place during March, April, and May.

The Rhode Island State Archives is home to more than 10 million records dating back to 1638. Rhode Island is one of the only states that houses its Archives in a commercially-leased office space that puts our historic collections at risk. Secretary Gorbea is working to build a new State Archives and History Center that will highlight our collections and meet the standards for Archival Storage established by the National Archives and Records Administration.