This is an incredible historic, colonial gem in Rhode Island and one of the things I wanted to see on my visit. I cannot believe it does not have more from Tripadvisor but perhaps that is a result of misinformation. This is not a place where tea was burned or destroyed; it is civic hall built between 1773-1775 to rival the well-known Faneuil Hall in Boston. In fact, when finished, it was similar in size to Faneuil Hall until the later was enlarged to its current proportions in 1801 by Bullfinch.Like Faneuil Hall, the intent of the building was to provide an open-air, public marketplace on the ground floor and civic space in the upper floors located in the center of the city's commercial district. The building for years held the Providence City Council meetings and served as a civic and government center for the city. It was championed by multi-term colonial Governor, Rhode Island Chief Justice and signor of the Declaration, Stephen Hopkins, and designed by Stephen Brown, professor and self-taught architect, who was one of the 4 Brown brothers. Brown's grandfather was the pastor at the First Baptist Church of American after Roger Williams, his nephew gave the money for Brown University located on the Brown family property and his three brothers are legends in the state of Rhode Island with interesting ties to commerce and wealth but also slavery and abolition. As for the building, it is a beautiful brick, Georgian structure located along the Providence River in the center of the city. Today it is beautifully framed by large shade trees and oak leaf hydrangeas. Our group enjoyed walking around the building on our walk and learning about its history and importance. Both the city of Providence and state of Rhode Island should do more to showcase this colonial civic building.

Market House is on the grounds of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and is the historic site of the burning of British Taxed Tea prior to the US Civil War. Walk along the Providence River Walk for more interesting historical facts.