Bristol Historical & Preservation Society

06/12/2026

This Juneteenth, join us for another offering of our Sites of Enslavement in Bristol walking tour.

Enslavement runs deeper in Bristol’s history than you might expect. In fact, the DeWolfs and Linden Place are just a start; enslaved people lived in many of the houses that still stand on Bristol's streets from the first years of the town’s founding.

Join BH&PS Director Catherine Zipf on a walking tour to look at some of these sites and explore what we know and what we don’t (yet) know about the experiences of the enslaved in Bristol. Based on ongoing research, this tour stops at the end of Bristol's period of enslavement and sets the stage for continued conversation around the free Black experience in Bristol. This walking tour is offered at 10am on June 19 in honor of Juneteenth.

Meet at BH&PS Headquarters, 48 Court Street, Bristol. Tickets may be purchased at the start of the tour and cost $15 General Admission, $10 for BH&PS members. Visit bhpsri.org or email [email protected] for more information.

Juneteenth commemorates the official end of legalized enslavement in America, which occurred on June 19, 1865. While the Emancipation Proclamation was officially signed on January 1, 1863, at the stroke of midnight, word of this decree was not applicable to many confederate controlled areas, including Texas. This situation changed on June 19, 1865 when a group of 2,000 Union troops made their way to Galveston Bay, Texas. There, they made the announcement about the executive decree, thus informing more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state that they were free. While struggles continued, this event marked a major turning point in American history. To learn more visit nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

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06/11/2026

It's been quite a day, but the Byfield Flag, the oldest flag in the country, is resting comfortably in our main room. We're so excited to host this amazing artifact!

We'll be open extra hours this weekend:
Thursday 1-6
Friday 1-6
Saturday 10-2
Sunday 3-5 (followed by a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 4:30 and the Flag Day Celebration at 5, both on the Town Common).

See you all soon!

06/06/2026

Looking to explore one of the more unusual places in Bristol? Join us on June 13 at 5pm for a walking tour of Juniper Hill Cemetery!

Meander through the winding lanes of Juniper Hill's National Register cemetery landscape with arborist and historian Chris Fletcher. This cemetery is significant for its mid-19th century ornamental design and its early Victorian romantic notions of nature, art, and death. The peaceful setting with long views to Bristol Harbor also contains a wide variety of specimen trees, including linden, juniper, beech, and oak. Enjoy an evening exploring the beauty, both natural and man-made, that make this important cemetery so significant.

Meets at the stone gate of Juniper Hill Cemetery on Sherry Ave. Tickets may be purchased at the start of the tour and cost $10 for all participants.

Visit our website, bhpsri.org, or email [email protected] for more information.

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06/03/2026

Yes, “no taxation without representation” was a real thing, but there was much, much more going on behind that one phrase. Join us and our partners, The Rogers Free Library, at 6:00pm on June 10 for a lecture by Christian McBurney entitled “Why did the thirteen colonies declare their independence 250 years ago? McBurney will address the underlying causes of the American Revolution by looking at the political, social, demographic, geographical, immigration, racial, and ideological factors that gave rise to our new nation.

Christian McBurney is the author of eleven books, six on the American Revolutionary War and nine on Rhode Island (four are on both). His next book will be on Rhode Island's "Black Regiment." He is also the editor and publisher of a leading Rhode Island history blog at smallstatebighistory.com. Christian resides with his wife near Bethesda, Maryland, and they have a second home in West Kingston, Rhode Island.

This event will be held at the Hereshoff Room in the Rogers Free Library. It is free and open to the public. This lecture will also be offered on zoom. Participants should register to attend either in person or virtually on the Rogers Free library website https://rogersfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/15957219.

Supported in part by a grant from the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250).

Bristol Rhode Island 250

Rhode Island 250

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05/26/2026

Please join us May 28 at 5:30pm for the official opening of our newest exhibit, Bristol Immigration 1850-1940: A Complex and Beautiful Tapestry, offered in conjunction with Art Night Bristol Warren.

Bristol Immigration 1850-1940: A Complex and Beautiful Tapestry explores how immigration is a fundamental part of Bristol’s history and how our town has been profoundly shaped by immigrants. In this exhibit, we delve into which ethnic groups settled in Bristol and how they changed over time. We also discuss what they left behind in their home countries, how they travelled here, what their journey was like, and what they found in Bristol when they arrived. And, we showcase the personal stories, artifacts, art, and history of various families who settled here in Bristol.

The BHPS will be open between 5:30pm - 8:00pm For Art Night Bristol Warren. On this night only, we will expand the conversation with a pop-up display of objects connected to this history that are not normally on view. There will also be all-ages, hands-on activities exploring one of the fiber arts that was brought over to Bristol, weaving!

We hope to see you there!

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Art Night - Gallery & Open Studio Tours of Bristol and Warren, RI

05/22/2026

Did you know that the British came to Bristol twice during the American Revolution?

Please join us on May 23 at 10am for a walking tour entitled Revolutionary Mayhem: The Burning of Bristol. This tour, led by BH&PS Historian Rei Battcher, takes an in-depth look at the second time the British attacked Bristol and burned many of its buildings.

Monday, May 25th, 1778, dawned much like any other early spring day. Though the birds were twittering in the treetops, there was an uneasy feeling in the air. The American Colonies had been at war for the past three years, fighting for independence from Britain. Little did anyone realize that this tranquil, sylvan scene was about to be interrupted by an invading regiment of British and Hessian soldiers, 500 strong, intending to burn Bristol to the ground.

The tour will meet at BH&PS Headquarters, 48 Court Street, Bristol. Tickets may be purchased at the start of the tour and cost $15 for general admission and $10 for BH&PS members. Visit our website bhpsri.org or email [email protected] for more information.

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Bristol Rhode Island 250
Rhode Island 250

05/20/2026

We are looking for vendors for our upcoming 2026 Flea & Fair!

For more information & contract, call 401-829-9340 or email [email protected].

05/17/2026

Did you know that Bristol’s population of over 1,000 people was directly affected by the American Revolution?

We are delighted to host C.J. Wolanski, and his team of reenactors, on May 23 for a living history event entitled Ordered into the Public Service: Bristol 1776. Join us to learn more about the ways in which Bristol participated in the Revolutionary War and how this historic town felt during this major turning point in our history.

Between 9:00am and 3:00pm, historic reenactors will take over a section of the Bristol Town Common for demonstrations of 18th century militia drills as well as the everyday occupations in which Colonial Bristolians worked. There will also be presentations about different parts of Bristol’s Revolutionary-era history, including flax work demonstrations, a sword show-and-tell and more. You might also be able to meet some figures from Bristol’s past!

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society at BHPSri.org. You can also send an email to [email protected] or call 401-253-7223.

If you are looking to dig deeper into Bristol's very own Revolutionary War history then don’t miss the The Burning of Bristol on 1778 Walking Tour that will be running at 10:00 that same day given by BHPS’s Historian Rei Battcher.

Explore Bristol Bristol Rhode Island 250 Rhode Island 250

05/10/2026

Pop quiz: Hairy crab--fuzzy mollusk or a type of tea?

(Hint: it's a type of tea....and we'll have some to try at our Historic Tea....)

Explore Bristol Linden Place Rogers Free Library Bristol Rhode Island 250 Rhode Island 250

On May 13, please join us, and our co-partners Linden Place to get a taste of the American Revolution!

We are hosting a Revolutionary War-themed afternoon tea in the lovely Linden Place Ballroom. This tea’s menu will be inspired by the food that the colonists ate and drank, all provided by local bakeries. We will also be joined by special guest author Gerald Carbone, in informal conversation with BH&PS Director Catherine Zipf, about RI’s own local hero Nathanael Greene.

This program will start at 3:00 PM. Registration is required for the tea and costs $50 for General Admission and $40 for BH&PS and LPM members. Please register at https://shop.beyonk.com/c6bsv2z6/experiences/7hjv8mty.

If you are looking to dig deeper into this topic then join us that night at 6:00pm at the Rogers Free Library for a Lecture! The lecture will be free and open to the public. Participants should register at https://rogersfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/16338791.

This event is proudly co-sponsored by the Bristol 250 Commission and supported in part by a grant from the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250).

Explore Bristol

Bristol Rhode Island 250

Rhode Island 250