Discover Rhode Island's rich cultural heritage through 67+ history museums, iconic Newport Mansions, world-class art collections at the RISD Museum, maritime history, and specialized museums showcasing everything from tennis to textiles. From the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution at Old Slater Mill to the opulent Gilded Age estates, Rhode Island offers an unparalleled museum experience in the Ocean State.
Location: 20 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02903
About: The RISD Museum houses approximately 100,000 works of fine and decorative art ranging from ancient times to the present. It is the only comprehensive art museum in southeastern New England, featuring collections from ancient Chinese sculpture to French Impressionist paintings, contemporary art, Gorham silver, Newport furniture, an ancient Egyptian mummy, and a 10-foot-tall 12th-century Buddha.
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10am-5pm; Thursday: 12pm-8pm; Closed Mondays
Admission: Adults $15, Seniors (62+) $12, College Students $8 (with valid ID), Youth (0-18) Free
Free Admission: Every Sunday (10am-5pm) and third Thursday evenings (5-9pm)
Visit Website | Phone: (401) 454-6500
Location: Providence, RI
About: Co-founded with the Rhode Island School of Design in 1877, this museum features Impressionist paintings, 20th-century design, and diverse art collections spanning multiple centuries and cultures.
Location: Warwick, RI
About: Community arts center featuring local and regional artists with rotating exhibitions and art classes.
The Preservation Society of Newport County protects and presents an outstanding collection of 11 historic house museums, including 7 National Historic Landmarks. These magnificent Gilded Age estates showcase the opulent lifestyle of America's wealthiest families and served as filming locations for HBO's "The Gilded Age."
Built: 1895
About: The grandest of Newport's summer "cottages," this 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo was built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Located on Ochre Point Avenue with stunning Atlantic Ocean views, The Breakers is a National Historic Landmark and symbol of the Vanderbilt family's wealth and prominence.
Built: 1892
About: Built for William K. Vanderbilt, Marble House offers a glimpse into the Vanderbilt family's Gilded Age lifestyle. This Beaux-Arts mansion inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles cost $11 million to build, with $7 million spent on 500,000 cubic feet of marble.
Built: 1901
About: This grand mansion was built for coal baron Edward Julius Berwind, modeled after the 18th-century Chateau d'Asnieres near Paris. Features magnificent gardens and servant life tours.
Built: 1902
About: Built for Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs, Rosecliff was designed by Stanford White and modeled after the Grand Trianon at Versailles. Famous for hosting the most lavish social events of the Gilded Age.
Built: 1852
About: One of the earliest grand mansions in Newport, built for William Shepard Wetmore. This Victorian mansion showcases the transition from the earlier Victorian style to the Gilded Age opulence.
Built: 1892
About: Designed by Peabody & Stearns for Frederick William Vanderbilt, later home to tobacco heiress Doris Duke. Features Duke's extensive art collection and stunning ocean views.
Built: 1841
About: One of the first summer cottages in Newport, this Gothic Revival mansion features early Tiffany glass installations and showcases mid-19th century architectural style.
Built: 1883
About: Outstanding example of Shingle Style architecture designed by McKim, Mead & White. Built for wealthy cotton broker Isaac Bell.
Built: 1861
About: Italianate-style villa featuring original Morris family furnishings and American art collections from multiple generations.
Built: c.1748
About: Premier example of colonial architecture in Newport, featuring the finest collection of Townsend-Goddard furniture and period furnishings.
Established: c.1860
Location: Portsmouth, RI
About: America's oldest topiary garden featuring over 80 sculpted trees and shrubs, formal gardens, and a Victorian-style summer residence.
Adult Tickets: $25-$57 (depending on package)
Youth (ages 6-12): $10-$18
Children 5 and under: Free
Membership Options: Individual ($115), Dual ($160), Family ($199), Pineapple ($140)
Tours Available: Audio tours, guided tours, behind-the-scenes servant life tours, and special events including Newport Flower Show, Wine & Food Festival, and Christmas at the Newport Mansions
Location: Newport, RI
About: Former summer cottage designed by Richard Morris Hunt, built in 1894 for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont. Features European art and antiques collection.
Location: Newport, RI
About: One of ten official museums managed by the US Navy, located in historic Founders Hall (a National Historic Landmark). The museum serves as the corporate memory of the U.S. Navy in the region and displays exhibits on the history of the Naval War College, naval activities in Narragansett Bay, and the history of naval warfare.
Admission: Free
Location: Bristol, RI
About: Maritime museum focusing on the history of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, yachting, and the America's Cup. Houses the America's Cup Hall of Fame and celebrates the innovative work of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, which produced many of America's Cup defenders.
Location: Newport, RI
About: Dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history, evolution, and heritage of yachting.
Location: North Kingstown, RI
About: Dedicated to preserving the history of the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier and naval aviation.
Location: 100 South Street, Providence, RI
About: Identifiable by the gigantic dragon on the roof, this hands-on museum offers interactive exhibits designed for children to explore, play, and learn through engaging activities.
Hours: Daily 9:30am-4:30pm (Two play sessions: 9:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm, with closure from 12:30pm-1:30pm for cleaning)
Admission: $16 per person; Museum members free; Free for up to 5 people for Active Military members (Armed Forces Day to Labor Day through Blue Stars Museum program)
Note: All visitors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and all adults must be accompanied by a child
Visit Website | Phone: (401) 273-5437
Location: Newport Casino, Newport, RI
About: Located in the historic Newport Casino (a National Historic Landmark that opened July 26, 1880), the International Tennis Hall of Fame was established in 1954 by Jimmy Van Alen and became international in 1975. After a $3 million renovation unveiled in May 2025, the museum features updated exhibits, interactive displays, and a new "Hall of Famers Gallery." The complex includes 13 grass tennis courts, indoor and outdoor tennis facilities, and a court tennis facility.
Collection: Approximately 30,000 objects including modern and historic tennis equipment, fine art, decorative arts, artifacts from Hall of Famers, trophies, textiles, clothing, and ephemera
Hours: Daily 10am-5pm (10am-6pm July-August)
Admission: Adults $15, Seniors (62+)/Students/Military $12, Kids 16 and under Free
Location: Pawtucket, RI
About: Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Samuel Slater opened this textile mill in 1793, marking the beginning of America's industrial age. The site preserves the original mill building and demonstrates early textile manufacturing processes.
Admission: Free
Location: Woonsocket, RI
About: Tells the story of French-Canadian immigrant textile workers in Rhode Island's mill villages from the 1840s through the 1930s. Interactive exhibits recreate working and living conditions of the industrial era.
Location: Peace Dale, RI
About: Features collections of prehistoric tools, artifacts, and cultural objects from around the world, focusing on indigenous peoples and early human cultures.
Location: Portsmouth, RI
About: Showcases over 85 cars in themed galleries including American muscle cars, European sports cars, and vintage automobiles.
Hours: Daily 10am-4pm
Location: Providence, RI
About: Features natural history exhibits, dioramas of Rhode Island wildlife, geology displays, and planetarium shows exploring astronomy and space science.
Museum Admission: $2 per person (Museum Members free, Children 3 and under free)
Planetarium Show & Museum: $5 per person (non-members)
Free Admission: First Saturday of every month for Providence residents
Location: Narragansett, RI
About: Features a 19th-century working farm, historic buildings, and exhibits on rural Rhode Island life including farming, fishing, and domestic arts.
Location: 18 Old Town Road and Ocean Avenue, New Shoreham (Block Island), RI
About: Founded in 1942, the museum is located in Woonsocket House, a large building with a red mansard roof built in 1871. Features two floors of exhibits including early maritime and farming displays, colonial memorabilia, Victorian summer pastimes, fine furniture, textiles, quilts, boat models, tools, fishing gear, Native American artifacts, and oral history recordings chronicling Block Island's past.
Hours: Memorial Day to Indigenous Peoples Day (summer season)
Admission: Adults $10, Seniors & Military $8, Students (High School/College) $6, Members & Children Under 12 Free
Location: Providence, RI
About: Operates multiple historic sites and museums throughout Rhode Island, preserving and interpreting the state's history through collections, research library, and public programs.
Location: Newport, RI
About: Preserves Newport's colonial and maritime history through historic properties, research collections, and educational programs.
Location: Pawtucket, RI
About: Dedicated to preserving and promoting Pawtucket's industrial heritage and historic neighborhoods.
Rhode Island offers 22 museums and attractions that can be visited without charge. Here are some highlights:
Many Rhode Island libraries offer free or discounted museum passes to cardholders. Check with your local library for availability at participating museums including Newport Mansions, RISD Museum, and others.
EBT cardholders can receive reduced admission at participating museums. For example, Providence Children's Museum offers $5 admission for up to four people with valid EBT card and ID.
Active military members and their families receive free admission to participating museums from Armed Forces Day (May) to Labor Day (September).
Best Times to Visit:
Multi-Museum Passes:
The most popular museums include the RISD Museum in Providence (with 100,000 works of art), The Breakers and other Newport Mansions (Gilded Age estates), the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Providence Children's Museum, and the Naval War College Museum. Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket is also highly visited as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.
22 museums in Rhode Island offer free admission. The RISD Museum is free every Sunday (10am-5pm) and third Thursday evenings (5-9pm). Museums that are always free include the Naval War College Museum, Roger Williams National Memorial, Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Old Slater Mill, and Rhode Island State House. Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History is free on the first Saturday of each month for Providence residents.
Newport Mansions ticket prices range from $25-$57 for adults, $10-$18 for youth ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. The price varies depending on which properties you visit and the type of package you choose. Annual memberships are available: Individual ($115), Dual ($160), Family ($199), and Pineapple ($140). Multi-property combination tickets offer better value than single mansion visits.
The RISD Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am-5pm, and Thursday from 12pm-8pm (closed Mondays). Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (62+), $8 for college students with valid ID, and free for youth ages 0-18. The museum offers free admission every Sunday and on third Thursday evenings from 5-9pm.
The Providence Children's Museum (identifiable by its giant dragon on the roof) is specifically designed for children with hands-on interactive exhibits. Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History and Planetarium offers engaging natural history exhibits and planetarium shows. Green Animals Topiary Garden features whimsical sculpted animals that delight children. The Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol and Explore the Bay in Newport also offer family-friendly educational experiences.
Most visitors can comfortably tour 2-3 Newport Mansions in one day. Each mansion tour takes approximately 60-90 minutes. The Preservation Society offers 11 historic properties including The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer, Kingscote, Isaac Bell House, Chepstow, Hunter House, Green Animals Topiary Garden, and The Breakers Stable. Audio tours, guided tours, and behind-the-scenes servant life tours are available. Consider purchasing a multi-property ticket for better value.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport features a collection of approximately 30,000 objects including modern and historic tennis equipment, fine art, trophies, textiles, and artifacts from Hall of Famers. After a $3 million renovation unveiled in May 2025, the museum includes updated exhibits, interactive displays, and a new "Hall of Famers Gallery." The complex is located in the historic Newport Casino (National Historic Landmark from 1880) and includes 13 grass tennis courts. Adults $15, Seniors/Students/Military $12, Kids 16 and under free. Open daily 10am-5pm (10am-6pm July-August).
Yes, Rhode Island has several excellent maritime museums. The Naval War College Museum in Newport is one of ten official US Navy museums and offers free admission. The Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol focuses on the history of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, yachting, and the America's Cup. The Museum of Yachting in Newport preserves yachting heritage. The USS Saratoga Museum Foundation in North Kingstown is dedicated to naval aviation history.
The Block Island Historical Society Museum, founded in 1942, is located at 18 Old Town Road and Ocean Avenue in New Shoreham. The museum is housed in Woonsocket House (built 1871) and features two floors of exhibits including early maritime and farming displays, colonial memorabilia, Victorian summer pastimes, fine furniture, textiles, quilts, boat models, tools, fishing gear, and Native American artifacts. Open Memorial Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. Admission: Adults $10, Seniors & Military $8, Students $6, Members & Children Under 12 Free.
Several programs offer discounted museum admission: (1) Many Rhode Island libraries offer free or discounted museum passes to cardholders; (2) The Museums for All program provides reduced admission for EBT cardholders (e.g., Providence Children's Museum offers $5 admission for up to 4 people); (3) Blue Star Museums program offers free admission to active military families from Armed Forces Day to Labor Day; (4) Gallery Night Providence on the third Thursday of each month features free admission to participating galleries and museums with free bus transportation; (5) Many museums offer free admission on specific days (RISD Museum on Sundays and third Thursday evenings).
Explore Rhode Island's rich history through online lectures and downloadable content about the Ocean State's museums, historic sites, and cultural heritage.
Last updated on November 24, 2025