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

The Wellspring of Providence

Roger Williams National Memorial

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

The Wellspring of Providence Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2017

1. The Wellspring of Providence Marker

Inscription.
A freshwater spring attracted Roger Williams to this site and anchored the community. Williams built his house across the street, and religious and civil meetings took place around its “gushing” waters. The spring remained in community ownership until 1721. When the land around the spring was sold, the deed stipulated that “liberty is reserved for the inhabitants to fetch water at said spring forever.” As the city grew, however, the spring was eventually hidden under buildings. Finally, in the 1930’s, the spring was uncovered and became the centerpiece of Roger Williams Spring Park.

The spring gushed forth from the hill-side in a copious stream, issuing from a shallow pool, and from boiling quicksands, and flowed down to the adjacent river.
Author unknown

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 41° 49.836′ N, 71° 24.635′ W. Marker is in Providence, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It is in Downtown Providence. Marker can be reached from North Main Street. Marker is located near the subject spring,

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at the center of Roger Williams National Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Providence RI 02903, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Shelter for Persons Distressed (here, next to this marker); The Original Water Supply (a few steps from this marker); Roger Williams Founded Providence Here in 1636 (a few steps from this marker); Roger Williams National Memorial (a few steps from this marker); A Livelie Experiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Roger Williams House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cathedral of St. John (within shouting distance of this marker); Gabriel Bernon (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Providence.

Also see . . .
1. Roger Williams National Memorial.
Roger Williams National Memorial commemorates the life of the founder of Rhode Island and a champion of the ideal of religious freedom. Williams, banished from Massachusetts for his beliefs, founded Providence in 1636. This colony served as a refuge where all could come to worship as their conscience dictated without interference from the state. (Submitted on August 30, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Roger Williams: Founding Providence.
From Slate Rock, Roger and his companions rowed south along the Seekonk River, around the point of land now called

The Wellspring of Providence Marker (<b><i>wide view</b></i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2017

2. The Wellspring of Providence Marker (wide view)

Fox Point and continued up the Great Salt River. Where the Great Salt River split into the Moshassuck and Woonasquatucket Rivers, it opened up into a large Salt water cove. A Native trail, which stretched from the Massachusetts Bay along the coast to New York, ran around the eastern edge of this cove. The English called this trail Towne Street. Emptying into the cove on the west side of the trail was a fresh water spring. East across the trail from this spring Roger built his house, on the lower slope of a great hill. (Submitted on August 30, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Roger Williams Spring (<b><i>marker in the background</b></i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2017

3. Roger Williams Spring (marker in the background)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 537 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 30, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.