Providence Population 2010: 178,042, #131 in U.S., #1 in Rhode Island 1950: 248,674, #43 in U.S. 2010
Metropolitan Area: 1,600,852, #37 in U.S. 1950 Metropolitan Area: 681,815, #22 in U.S. Setting Providence
was founded in 1636 at the mouth of the Providence River where it enters
Narragansett Bay, about 30 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. For many years, the river through downtown was covered by
city streets and highways. In 1994, the river was reopened as part of
Waterplace Park. A Riverwalk now follows the river for about a mile. Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design are just east of downtown. Buildings Tallest
building: Industrial National Bank Building, 428 feet (1927). The building is currently vacant. It was last used by Bank of America in 2013. List of tallest buildings The domed Rhode Island State House (1904) is 223 feet tall. Stores Providence
Place (1999) is a three-story downtown mall with a Macy’s. The Nordstrom store closed in January 2019. A Boscov's department store opened in September 2019. Trains Providence is on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, with frequent service from Providence Station (1986) north to Boston and south to New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Nearby Union Station (1898) is now used for offices. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has commuter service between Providence and Boston’s South Station. | Downtown Providence and Providence River Museums The Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design is just east of downtown, and the Providence Children's Museum is just south of downtown. Theaters The
Providence Place Cinemas 16 is downtown. The Cable Car Cinema
and Café closed in 2018. The Providence Performing Arts Center (the
former
Loew’s State Theater, 1928) is a restored movie palace that has concerts
and
touring Broadway shows. The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra plays at Veterans Memorial Auditorium (1950). The Trinity Repertory Company is also downtown. Sports There is no professional baseball in Providence, but the Pawtucket Red Sox, Triple-A International League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, play in nearby Pawtucket. The Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League play at the Dunkin' Donuts Center (1972). Convention and Visitors Bureau |