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Betsey Williams Cottage

The historic Betsey Williams Cottage was the home to Park donor Betsey Williams and her sister Rhoda. 

The cottage was once surrounded by brush and woods, accessed by a winding cart path that lead from Broad Street. The sisters’ hospitality was famous, even if they did have their eccentricities. According to legend in The Jewel of Providence, the 150-year old London Plane tree in front of the building has:

“…a semblance of glistening beams [that] can be seen coming from near the top of this mighty tree. Mystics swear this happening is the workings of Betsey and Rhoda Williams imploring the majestic Plane to lay bare its “white skin” and benchmark the safe location of the Cottage for any wayward traveler in search of hearth and home. ” 

The cottage has undergone many restorations, mostly recently in 2019-2020.

Date Erected:
1773
Architect:
The Williams Family
Did you know?
This is the oldest structure in the Park by almost 120 years!

on Self-Guided Tour of Notable Art

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It’s officially one month until Rosé in the Roses on June 11! 🌹We can’t wait to see everyone dressed in their garden party best – including statement-making headwear! Thank you to all the fashionistas who attended our Fascinator Workshop at the Botanical Center and created some show-stopping floral accessories with the help of instructor Michelle Carden. 

Even if you missed the workshop, you have full permission to get creative with your Rosé look! Get your tickets by the end of May to enjoy an evening of mingling at the @rwpbotanicalcenter and Rose Maze, delicious bites by Ellie’s Bakery and Morin’s Catering, Mahjong with the @thegildedbirds, entertainment from the @theprovidencedrumtroupe, live music by @luisgilbertord and Ashley Frith, and more! 

Special thanks to our event sponsors: @beacon.bank, @beaulinemedia, Audrey and Ed Clifton, Meredith Curren and Gary Frishman, History and Conservation Associates, @morinscatering, @elliesprov, and @wemakepretend.

https://www.rwpconservancy.org/support/rose-in-the-roses-a-garden-party-fundraiser/
Can it be Friday at Roger Williams Park every day, please? 🥙🍿🎠

This past Friday was especially awesome thanks to a preview show from Ringling featuring talented acrobats, a Movies in the Park screening of The Greatest Showman, and, of course, Food Truck Friday!

Thank you to everyone who made it happen:
@ringling 
@pvd_foodtruckevents 
@pvdfilmfestival 
@rwpzoo 
@pvdparks 

🌳Haven’t been to Roger Williams Park in a little while? Follow to keep up with events happening this summer and beyond!
Join us tomorrow for a free Mobile Photography Workshop at Roger Williams Park! 🌸 All you need is your phone camera and a passion for capturing the beauty of the park in spring! RWPC Program Manager José Ramirez (@jram9808) leads this fun and informative workshop.

It’s free to join, but space is limited, so sign up to reserve your spot (link in bio, or visit our event calendar at rwpconservancy.org).
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Hype Crew will bring a preview of The Greatest Show On Earth® to Food Truck Friday at Roger Williams Park, kicking off this summer’s Movies in the Park series on May 8! You will be treated to a high-energy mini performance featuring a variety of acts, including unicycles, jump rope acrobatics, balancing, and more – all building excitement for @ringling’s return to Providence!

This Friday, grab a bite to eat at 5 PM from one of the amazing food trucks at Carousel Village, and then head over to the Boathouse lawn (just across the street) for the Ringling Bros. preview show at 5:30 PM. Stick around to see The Greatest Showman at 8 PM!

Thank you to our wonderful partners for bringing this fabulous family-friendly spectacle to the park:
@ringling 
@pvd_foodtruckevents 
@pvdfilmfestival 
@rwpzoo 
@pvdparks
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