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.
450 properties and 12 Essays with 7,428 images. Browse more from our Categories and Tags.
Demolition Alerts
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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
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Demolition Alert
Updated 17 May, 2025: Added a recent photo of the still-standing buildings
Recently added/updated Subscribe
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Updated 27 January, 2026: Added news of a recent purchase and redevelopment agreement.
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Added 25 January, 2026: A family-run diner serving homemade classics to residents and students on the East Side for just about 80 years
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Added 22 January, 2026: A simple two-story brick-faced commercial building with a long history as a vending machine operation
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Added 10 January, 2026: An unassuming house along a busy commercial corrider has been retail-first for 100+ years, and now undergoes a move towards housing
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Added 2 January, 2026: A truck showroom turned office for the State’s Board of Elections has one redevelopment plan rejected as it waits for new ideas
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Updated 2 January, 2026: Added a recent image of the un-redeveloped mill
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The Art of Ruins — This week’s artful image
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Added 27 December, 2025: A three-hundred year old house with a varied history, a little mystery, and larger questions about what is worth preserving.
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Building Triple Deckers in Providence — A Tale of Dimensions, Parking Minimums, and Zoning Variances
Added 30 November, 2025: A deep dive into how local zoning regulations and designated zones shape the way housing is designed and built through the lens of building a new 3-unit structure.
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Added 29 November, 2025: An almost 100-year old Greek Revival style school building is being razed for a new pre-K through 8th grade building
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Added 29 November, 2025: This former automobile service and repair shop is crumbling just outside of Olneyville Square
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Updated 29 November, 2025: Added a new photo of the still empty lot
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Updated 29 November, 2025: Added a recent photo of the adjacent building, home to McBride’s Irish Pub
#WhatAreTheyBuilding: Under Construction
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Added 2 November, 2025: Brown University builds a +300,000 square foot life sciences laboratory in the center of the Jewelry District
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Added 18 October, 2025: A large condominium complex in a desirable neighborhood that hit the market just after the late-2000s real estate collapse
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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
Also! The list of new building proposals we are keeping an eye on.
Recent Anecdotes Subscribe
2,017 anecdotes from people just like you.
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Many memories! I grew up in the house behind this building when it was “RI Aquarium.” We simply referred to it as “The Pet Shop.” That parking lot was our playground (after store hours, of course).
Paul on North Main Street, #905 -
Should be restored and not renovated. I live in a house built in 1760, without insulation in the oldest section of the house. No problem. House is very livable. (via Instagram)
dollsintheneatestmanner on Esek Hopkins House -
Worked at Sears right out of high school (1962-1968). Manager of the hot dog stand, candy counter, and housewares hired me. First day on the job was selling hot dogs, on sale, 5 cents each. Then worked candy counter. Moved to housewares. After 4 years on the floor, moved to th...
Beverly Golec on Sears Department Store -
I miss gamers haven/electronic boutique
Philip Houle on Lincoln Mall -
I miss Tim and the whole crew at Checkers. Go there before or after a show to get two slices and a soda. The potato slice was always my favorite!
ChapmanCycles on George R. Earle Building -
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
