The Blue Whale and Other Travel Tales: NUMBER 18--Providence

NUMBER 18—Providence State House, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Smith Street (aka Smith Hill)
(401) 222-2357

Tours are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. noon. Please book guided tours at least one week in advance.
Self-guided tours are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. The State House is closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

The smallest state has the longest official name, kind of ironic, methinks.

Like many of the early states, the building is called a State House rather than “Capitol.” One needs to remember this if one is trying to “Google” it. It was not in session. (None of the capitols have been in session when I visited them.) This is usually good for parking. No so here!

Senate: 38

House: 75

Architect: McKim, Mead and White

Building Completed: 1904

Style: American Renaissance (reflecting hints of ancient Greece and Rome)

The Rotunda: The cordoned section of the floor just below the dome has the state seal enbossed in bronze containing the state emblem--an anchor which includes the state motto--the word “HOPE.” The ceiling contains a mural symbolic of colonizing by Roger Williams with his following and various native Americans. The four support corners of the dome contain large artistic medallions.

Liberty Bell—Each state has been gifted at least one replica of the liberty bell. Missouri seems to have two—one of which is located at the Harry S Truman Library (#54) in Independence, MO, given by the city of Annecy-le-Vieux to the city of Independence. My guess would be that this choice was made as Truman was President at the time of the gifting. The second one was given to the State of Missouri and resides on capitol grounds (#20).

http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/exhibits/statebells/index.htm

The fifty five full-sized replicas were cast in 1950 by the Paccard Foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France and shipped as gifts to states and territories. They were funded by a savings bond drive.

In some states, the replica bells are located outside on the grounds of the capitol; some states have located them in other prestigious places such as state historical societies; some states don’t seem to have a clue where it is. Rhode Island (#37) honors hers by housing her within the capitol building in the south vestibule on the first floor opposite the entrance from which one goes through the metal detectors, near the rotunda. It is housed surrounded by Rhode Island state honored battle flags.

(An aside story—as I was trudging my way up the stairs and then down the other side, I ran into a really friendly lady, who asked if she could help me. I explained that I heading for the bell and mentioned to her that every state had one. She was very surprised and offered to take my picture with it. I declined and thanked her. She went about her business; I took a picture of the bell. I actually was surprised at the friendliness from a New Englander. We have a reputation to uphold, you know…stiff upper lip and all that jazz!)

Cornerstone—Another kind lady told me where it was. If one stood in the “rose garden”—which really was a memorial garden—one could see it. It was not marked in any way, however. But like many cornerstones, it apparently contained some sort of time capsule. The powers that be wanted to look at its contents as one time, but discovered that removing it would wreck the infrastructure and the integrity of the building would be at risk.

Trivia question #1: What do St Peter’s the Vatican City, The Capitol in St Paul, Minnesota and the Tal Mahal, Agra, India have in common? Answer at the end of this blog.

What’s unique:

• The original Royal Charter from King Charles II with a modern day transcription. Very impressive and special! Pictures are not allowed.

• The Senate was plainer than the House. In most states it is the opposite—the Senate is more opulent than the House.

Not quite unique is the State Library, as there are a few states that houses the state library under the roof of the capitol, but they are in the minority. The Library is very beautiful and ornate. Also, the ship's bell from the USS Rhode Island. Many states have posession of a ship's bell relative to thast particular state.

Providence is a nice day trip from our Connecticut base. I left around 8:00 am, hoping to miss the morning rush hour, which I did. Backtracked to get gas as $4.129 is the cheapest I have seen since hitting the Connecticut state line. It took longer than I thought—close to three hours. I thought it would be a smidge over two, but a nice trip anyway. For mid-May, the day was cloudy and dreary. When I got out of my car, I was really happy that I had brought my winter parka and earmuffs. This gal has been in Florida much too long. Steve chose not to come. Talked to a friend in Florida after I got home and told her about the ear muffs. She laughed so hard and had to bring her husband to the phone. She could hardly talk for all the laughter.

I followed US-6 from mid Connecticut right into the heart if the city. It was much easier to get around than I imagined. Getting in and out of the city was a breeze with well-marked roads. The pot holes in the roads, on the other hand, were challenging to say the least. Glad I had a rental. Would hate to put my car through that.

The area surrounding the capitol was exceptionally neat and clean. The Palace Plaza housing a mall with well-known stores is within an easy walk. Waterplace and the Railroad Station, too were within an easy walk.

Parking, on the other hand—was a nightmare. Around the capitol grounds is metered parking which allows one to park in various spaces from a few that allowed one only ten minutes. One half hour was popular; then two hour and four hour. The problem is that the meters seemed to be very particular as to what they consumed. Signs indicated either cards or appropriate coins. A normal credit card was too big for the slot. And who knows what coins were acceptable as it did say absolutely noooooooooothing about the cost or what coins were acceptable. I can say that it gave absolutely no response with dimes. So, after a mini battle with the meter, I found a parking garage—very expensive. Only debit or credit cards can be used. No human can be seen as one retreats from the garage (either as one walks out of the garage or later when one leaves driving out). A very impatient canned voice eventually talks to you as you leave. She tells you where to put your ticket and card. I am now parked six or more blocks away, but I could use the exercise (however, not so much in this cold windy New England day in mid May). There has to be an easier/better way to park, but it evaded me. Handicap parking, on the other hand, was plentiful and easily assessable.

I picked a very dismal and nasty looking day. Fought the wind trudging my way to the steps on the south side of the building. Got to the bottom of the steps which I started to climb.

About half way were two bronzes—one of Washington; the other some early settler (can’t be Roger Williams as no one really knows what he looks like, but maybe the bronze is what someone thinks he looked like). When I stopped to take a picture, I discovered a beautiful memorial garden for armed services. After picture taking, I climbed the rest of the stairs to find that I needed to enter the building from the other side.

The interior of the entrance was framed with two cannon—one from the Battle of Bull Run (Manassas, y’all) and the other from the Battle of Gettysburg into which a cannon ball is still stuck. Both cannon were used by Rhode Island batteries (1st RI L.A.)

I hear tell that one may have been re-enacting too long when one hears the word “battery” and thinks first of a cannon rather than something that conducts electricity. Yep, I’ve been at it too long!

Behind the cannon are battle flags used by Rhode Islanders from the American Revolution through World War I—the Great War. Second trivia question: Do you know how you can tell what era a veteran from WWI died without looking at the date?

The interior is marble and granite, much of which is New England's own. On the first floor are various shapes of marble in all kinds of colors set here and there...greens, coppers, pinks. Even the ladies’ room was granite with solid oak doors in the stalls.

Like many capitol buildings, local art abounds. The governors’ pictures are huge portraits in oil. Marble statues honor the various service branches—both male and female—in alcoves around the second floor. There are wonderful bronzes of some of Rhode Island’s famous. And a wonderful carving from Liberia’s natural wood is in one alcove. It is to thank the people of Rhode Island for their help (can’t remember specifically for what, however).

Gilbert Stuart’s huge portrait of Washington in a monstrous gilded frame hangs in the official state reception room. On the opposite wall is a large portrait painted by Gari Melchers of Washington’s second in command, Rhode Islander, Major General Greene. Many other Rhode Island historical artifacts are also housed in this room. The governor’s reception room is highly ornate with loads of gold leaf.

A fun fact about this room and its immediate vicinity is that the French doors open onto the Governor’s Balcony. On Inauguration Day, the High Sheriff of Providence County, dressed in garb from the early 1800’s, reads the formal Proclamation of Election of the Governor. This is followed by a nineteen-gun salute on the State House lawn.

The book and the stamp—The book listed a particular room in which the stamp was housed. I found the room. None of the three people in the room had a clue about my request for my getting my book stamped. Finally, one of them got it. I found that the people working there generally did not have much knowledge about what was there and the history or the whereabouts or anything. Except the Sergeant at arms. He answered everything I asked. Seems to me that dealing with as many visitors that most capitols/state houses receive, the education level should be higher. This was disappointing to me. All other capitols/state houses personnel—whether the janitor or state senator was able to answer anything thrown at them. Surprisingly friendly and even more surprisingly ignorant about their surroundings and how special these surroundings should be and are.

The dome of this capitol (and the answer to the first trivia question) is the fourth largest self-supporting marble covered dome in the world after the three afore mentioned. The “Independent Man” tops the dome.

The House and Senate, like many other capitols, had galleries for visitors during session. The Senate’s gallery was behind the dais, which was a bit unusual. From the floor of one of the Chambers over the dais area are the state seals of the original thirteen states, Rhode Island’s, of course, is in the middle. Immediately to its left is Connecticut’s. It reminds me of a smiley face.

The rose garden, which is probably very beautiful when in full bloom was nonetheless a quiet soliditude place for relaxation. It is a memorial to all five of the military services, and even without the flowers, is quite pretty.

Answer trivia #2: If the grave stone shows "the Great War, the person passed before World War II; if the stone is inscribed with "World War I" or "WWI," they died after World War II started.