Documenting Change since 2002

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.

447 properties and 12 Essays with 7,398 images. Browse more from our Categories and Tags.

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2,012 anecdotes from people just like you.

  • Ten members of my family attended Union Primary between years 1917 and 1935 and though I searched for class photos, only one I found was from RI State Historical Society of Miss Coe’s class of 1898. Really would like to find other photos
    Richard T. Smith on Union Primary School, Rumford
  • I remember Sunday drives with my Grandfather and we would pass by there he would always point out how back in the 1800s the houses were owned by a black family. It was built between 1882 and 1895 for Alexander Gorham, an African American real estate developer. The 2 houses rep...
    Chenille King on Brook Street, #287 & 291
  • I attended St. Dunstan’s on Hope St. from 1958 to 1960, remain indebted to the school for a start learning Latin, French and a LOT about choral music; I was a boy chorister (with the connection to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church) and handbell ringer. I just realized today that t...
    Julian Lopez-Morillas on Benefit Street, north of Angell, western side, 2004
  • I was the Principal for Samuel Bridgham Middle School for four years. I found the school to have an excellent floor plan and successfully fulfilled the needs of the students and faculty. Also, the ball field immediately outside the school served as an excellent phys ed space i...
    Albin Moser on Asa Messer Elementary School at Bridgham
  • I was born in the Navy hospital at Quonset Point in 1961.
    Ken Smith on Quonset Point Naval Air Station
  • The new construction 64 Duncan Ave, described here as single-family, is pictured with three electric meters, and all real-estate websites say it’s a two-unit (with basement that could be finished to make a third).
    Daniel Macks on Building Triple Deckers in Providence — A Tale of Dimensions, Parking Minimums, and Zoning Variances
  • The 9 existing homes were not “historic”, this was only an “honorary” nomenclature used to describe them. The original Providence Preservation Society (PPS) master plan (developed by architect Bill Warner for Antoinette Downing) called for preserving the entirety of Benefit st...
    Bob Gilbane on 257 Thayer Street
  • Gilbane Development purchased 15 West and One Financial Center from Fleet Bank. The land under 15 West contained a 5,000sf 100 year ground lease parcel which we had to purchase to clear the title. The building was legally entitled into condo #1, ground floor RISD library and c...
    Bob Gilbane on Hospital Trust Building (1919)