Downtown Providence in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)

Roger Williams Founded Providence Here in 1636

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 19, 2018

1. Roger Williams Founded Providence Here in 1636 Marker

Inscription. The Spring of clear cold water located thirty feet west of this point led Roger Williams to found Providence here in the year 1636 from which center has developed in four directions

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1636.

Location. 41° 49.833′ N, 71° 24.624′ W. Marker is in Providence, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It is in Downtown Providence. It is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 44) and Howland Street, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Providence RI 02903, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Original Water Supply (here, next to this marker); The Wellspring of Providence (a few steps from this marker); A Shelter for Persons Distressed (a few steps from this marker); Site of Roger Williams House (a few steps from this marker); A Livelie Experiment (a few steps from this marker); Roger Williams National Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cathedral of St. John (within shouting distance of this marker); Realizing Providence (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Providence.

Another marker is no longer nearby. A Howling Wilderness (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. Roger Williams. Roger Williams National Memorial website entry (Submitted on August 26, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

2. Roger Williams ... A Brief Biography. Roger Williams Family Association website entry (Submitted on August 26, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

3. King Philip's War (1675-1678).

Roger Williams Founded Providence Here in 1636 Marker (back) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 19, 2018

2. Roger Williams Founded Providence Here in 1636 Marker (back)

Roger Williams National Memorial Rhode Island, National Park Service. Roger Williams used his diplomatic skill to keep the English and Native Americans on friendly terms. However, relations between Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag slowly deteriorated. By the 1670s, the purchasing of Indian land by the English and a series of hostile incidents resulted in King Phillip’s War.

(Submitted on April 25, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)

Roger Williams image. Click for full size.

via Roger Williams Family Association, unknown

3. Roger Williams

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 19, 2018

4. Roger Williams Founded Providence Here in 1636 Marker

By the curb

Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 717 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on March 5, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on August 26, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.