Providence is the state capital and largest city in Rhode Island, as well as the 3rd largest city in New England. Downcity events, historic vistas, eclectic districts such as College Hill and Federal Hill, and a great nightlife make Providence a worthwhile tourist destination.

College Hill is primarily centered along Thayer Street at the intersection of Waterman and Angell Avenues, but there are other scattered blocks (such as Wickenden St.) with attractions.

Situated at the mouth of the Providence River, at the head of Narragansett Bay, the city's small footprint is crisscrossed by seemingly erratic streets and contains a rapidly changing demographic.

Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honor of God's merciful Providence which he believed was responsible for revealing such a haven for him and his followers to settle.

Once nicknamed the Beehive of Industry, Providence began rebranding itself as the Creative Capital in 2009 to emphasize its educational resources and arts community. Its previous moniker was The Renaissance City, though its 2000 poverty rate was still among the ten highest for cities over 100,000.

Downtown Providence is very compact and can easily be covered walking. There is some parking available throughout the city, but R.I.P.T.A's public transport network is extensive and an alternative to driving.

Two of the downtown lines are run completely on natural gas trackless trolleys (called the Providence LINK Trolley), and cover most of historic Providence.

Providence is a city rich in unique architecture, beautiful streetscapes and stimulating intellectual pursuits. One of America's older cities, Providence features many historic buildings like the Rhode Island State House and Trinity Repertory Theater. These locations, among others, exemplify some of the country's best 19th and 20th century architecture. The RISD museum and Roger Williams Park Zoo offer days of fun sightseeing for adults and children alike.

Museums

* Museum at the Rhode Island School of Design, 224 Benefit Street.
* Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 North Main Street.
* Culinary Archives & Museum at Johnson and Wales University, 315 Harborside Blvd.
* The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium at Roger Williams Park, 1000 Elmwood Ave.
* Providence Children's Museum, 100 South St.


Architecture

* Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith Street.
* Brown University, 45 Prospect Street.

* Besides the State House, Providence has some significant works of architecture, of the more noteworthy:

* Old Stone Bank.
* The Arcade.
* City Hall.
* Industrial Trust Tower (Bank of America Tower) - Kennedy Plaza.
* Trinity Repertory Theater.
* Providence County Courthouse.
* First Baptist Church - Main St. & Waterman St.
* Cranston Street Armory - Cranston St.
* Biltmore Hotel - The 1922 Neo-Federal Beaux-Arts styled hotel.
* Federal Courthouse.
* Athenaeum - The fourth oldest library in the country.
* Market Square.

Parks

* Roger Williams Park Zoo - 1000 Elmwood Ave.
* Waterplace Park and Riverwalk.
* India Point Park

* Providence Newport Ferry
* Bunny on the street at Foo Fest
* Providence Place Mall
* Trinity Repertory Company
* AS220's Dreyfus building downtown.

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>Title = Providence - State Capital, RI, USA - Video.
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