Unique places have special stories
ArtInRuins documents the architectural landscape to collect the oral, written, and photographic history of important places in Rhode Island. We are a safe space for storytelling, memory-sharing, and dreaming about the future of the built environment. More about A.I.R.
442 properties and 11 Essays with 7,310 images. Browse more from our Categories and Tags.
Demolition Alerts
-
Demolition Alert
Added 21 September, 2025: A low, 1970s-modern school building that had recent upgrades but is still on the list of schools to demolish and rebuild
-
Demolition Alert
Added 7 September, 2025: The 100-year old center of the original Miriam campus will be replaced by a modern wing and updated Emergency Center
-
Demolition Alert
Added 5 September, 2025: An almost 100-year old Greek Revival style school building is being razed for a new pre-K through 8th grade building
-
Demolition Alert
Updated 17 May, 2025: Added a recent photo of the still-standing buildings
Recently added/updated Subscribe
-
Added 6 October, 2025: A long-standing family-run business survived for 93 years before succumbing to low-reimbursements and major pharma companies preferences for chain store control
-
Updated 6 September, 2025: Added a recent photo of the adjacent building, home to McBride’s Irish Pub
-
Added 22 August, 2025: As if being the center of a 1970s crime syndicate isn’t enough, this now unassuming building was once a church with a 110 foot spire
-
Updated 17 August, 2025: Added a recent photo of this building now that its neighbor has been painted
-
Updated 16 August, 2025: Added new photos of the paint job and new windows, as well as info about the owners
-
Updated 16 August, 2025: Added images of the recent renovations and exterior signage
-
The Art of Ruins — This week’s artful image
-
Added 29 July, 2025: A simple and relatively small yet handsome three-story building has stood on this corner for 100 years.
-
Added 26 July, 2025: A 50 year old family entertainment complex on a busy strip mall section of Route 6 survived fads but could not survive the pandemic
-
Added 23 July, 2025: A former trolley car barn along the busy thoroughfare of Broad Street has been reduced twice to a much smaller industrial space on the corner of Thurbers and Prairie
-
Added 13 July, 2025: A small, narrow two-story tower once used to switch trains between tracks has been sitting vacant and deteriorating for almost 40 years
-
Added 9 July, 2025: A handsome, turn-of-the century commercial investment property that continues to be a notable downtown office building and landmark due to its unique mural
-
Updated 3 July, 2025: Added new photos from Chloé Hurley
#WhatAreTheyBuilding: Under Construction
-
Added 18 October, 2025: A large condominium complex in a desirable neighborhood that hit the market just after the late-2000s real estate collapse
-
Added 19 September, 2025: A new building to replace three previous structures seems to have stalled after developers added an additional level for a total of five stories
-
Updated 10 August, 2025: Added new images of the construction of phase 2
Also! The list of new building proposals we are keeping an eye on.
Recent Anecdotes Subscribe
2,003 anecdotes from people just like you.
-
my house was right behind the Broadway Methodis church. we would hear the organ & choir every Sunday. i also remember the night it caught fire
Patricia Roberto Martin on Broadway, #189 -
Sister Prudence, Sister Marion, Mre Grundy, Right Rev Monsignor Gibbons, Father Gallagher, Father Prime (who i always thought was a pedophile)
jim killilea on Holy Name School -
Was assigned to the Gap store at Lincoln Mall as store manager in the early 80’s. It was either Papa Gino’s or Newport Creamery for lunch/dinner. The mall had a good mix of stores. Woolco was still there when I started. I can’t recall if Caldor replaced it or if they were on ...
ML on Lincoln Mall -
I found this post while looking for information on the Barton’s children’s Furniture Company. I have a vintage children’s table and chairs. That looks to be from the 50’s or 60’s. But I can’t seem to find any other information on them.
Ann Lambert on Broadway & Dean St. Garages -
We were the last renters on the third floor! Awesome spot but I don’t miss those stairs (via Instagram)
Keith Haupt, Jr. on H.P. and R.P. Gladding House -
My father took me to see the Reds vs. Montreal’s minor league team one night and some guy by the name of Ken Dryden, yeah, that Ken Dryden, was makeing his professional debut. Alton White was in the penalty box in the 3rd period in a scoreless game and when he came out, he was...
Bill Baker on Rhode Island Auditorium -
NOT AN ANECDOTE: FORMER PAWTUCKET RESIDENT; also a former asthma patient. NOW I NEED TO ASK HOW DO I GET MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE? Born October 21, 1938
Joan Curtiss on Memorial Hospital -
In 1941 my Dad, Herbert William “Sonny” Saunders was a PBY pilot stationed at Quonset Point. He was assigned to find Uboats as convoys left the USA for England. He was about to head home on Xmas leave when all leaves were suddenly cancelled on Dec 7 1941. Within 24 hours he wa...
Jeff Saunders on Quonset Point Naval Air Station
