benefit street

788ScottS788

One can walk along this street and feel like they are walking in different parts of historical Boston. The history is tangible, and the homes are amazing. Great representation of early Americana.

RMA626

Benefit Street is an intact Colonial neighborhood with views of downtown Providence. Many of the homes have signs that tell when the house was built, who lived there, and some even name the architect. Benefit Street is a "real life" community, and is not made up, like Colonial Williamsburg.

juanvlp

As you walk thru benefit st. you can visit, Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, is a historical place, nice area to be. Only a short walk away from Down Town. I know because I live here, and love the city of Providence.

188liamm

This street is awesome, it has so much history. In the fall, or summer, or spring --- it's equally great. The cherry blossums, the students bustling up College Hill to Brown University... everything about it is so great! If you head up the hill on the road perpendicular, you will see the Providence Art Club which is one of the oldest Art Clubs in the country, it's a must see. At the base of the hill is Fat Belly's, an irish pub. Check it out when you visit the City, you will not regret Benefit Street and its amazing architecture and history of a bygone era of industrial magnates.

JeffW111

classic New England Homes and businesses all identified by plaques with names of original owner. walking tours available.

pamh345

Take a walking tour along part of the Providence historical trail down Benefit street and you'll find a whole host of old, preserved buildings. Particularly fun is the building which has been raised a level and therefore has a front door on the second floor! It's pretty quiet with not much traffic and can easily be done on the walk up to Brown.

HelenaGuerra

Providence doesn't have much to see or do. The main attraction is the area around the campus. The streets are filled with old but well preserved houses. It's a charming neighborhood that reminds me a lot Boston and London.

qofd

Park your car and wander around the streets. Definitely best viewed on foot. The streets are clean and attractive and there are some wonderfully restored buildings.

Irishmom4

If you enjoy history & architecture, this street should not be missed. It's easy to find and easy to walk. Can be difficult to find parking in the area, lots of small old streets, not a lot of public parking.

VinMar_10

My wife loves to look at old house so we spent a Sunday afternoon slowly walking down Benefit Street. All the houses a different and interesting. She took many pictures of the different homes as we stooled down the street. A well worth while self tour.

Bride2207

Loved this street. We wandered along both sides taking in the varied architectural styles. Took us a while as we kept stopping to take photos. Still very unspoilt. Just beautiful.

jesselodge

My wife and I were visiting Providence and accidentally found Benefit street while seeing the sites. We were very happy we did so. Just seeing the different architecture of the different homes was well worth it. While this is a little hilly you can still drive this if so want to. But I would recommend walking so you can take more of this in.Definitely recommend!!!

Dean65

Walk not just down benefit street, but look up and down the side streets and vere off of benefit. The old houses and the yards were things out of books and my wife's sappy movies. She wore out a brand new pair of flip-flops just walking around Providence, much of it on and around Benefit Street.

SylviaCM

This was impressive as the most authentic concentration of original Colonial homes still in existence. One house was more impressive than the next. It's know as the Mile of History and it's so true. Even the gardens are breathtakingly beautiful!

JohnBJ_13

You don't have to travel to Williamsburg, VA to see a whole bunch of historic, mostly 18th-century homes. Just drive or walk along the one+ mile stretch of Benefit Street to view lovely homes painted mostly in pastel hues, and nearly all with a plaque on them from the Providence Preservation Society giving the date each house was constructed and the name of the original owner or builder. It really is a spectacular step back in time, all at the base of the hill on which Brown University sits, another place worth exploring.