The Stephen Hopkins House Reviews

Wonderful free tour by a really knowledgeable young guide. A good percentage of the home is original. We left feeling like we briefly stepped back in time.Worth seeing if you're visiting providence

I just moved into the area and finally got to spend a day touring historical sites. This place is well-worth the time. Fantastic tour guide, and the info provided a valuable insight into Rhode Island's history. Though honestly, after seeing a few places, I'm pretty convinced that George Washington visited everyone! I'm beginning to get the impression that he did as much social climbing as politicking. Though I guess they're kind of the same thing?

This place had an OPEN HOUSE on a waterfire night. Wonderful tour guide who knew all aspects of this historic home.

A knowledgeable volunteer gave us a fabulous tour of this house partially built in 1708 and then expanded as his family grew. We learned so much from each room of one of the founders and signers of the Declaration Of Independence. If you are an American History Buff, this is a must see.

This was a wonderful visit! Kim was so well-informed and was a wealth of historical information. The house was authentic and the furniture was beautiful. We saw the bedroom in which President Washington slept! We had never heard of Stephen Hopkins and after this visit, we sincerely appreciated the breadth of his influence. The museum is located on beautiful and historic Benefit St. and absolutely worth a visit. The RISD museum is steps away and both make for a great outing.

The delightful small 1720s home of an important early patriot. So many connections to Rhode Island and United States history. George Washington really did sleep here. Twice. The docent was wonderful.

Oh, what FUN!!! Best tour guide! David!!!! He had so much knowledge of the history of Providence, and the beautiful home we toured! This is a MUST for anyone. The artifacts were genuine to the house!!!!! Thank you for a beautiful understanding of a crucial time in countries history!

We had a great experience when we stopped at the Hopkins’ house! Our tour guide Sue said she was new but she was outstanding!

While passing and exploring from the UK, like some others, we were offered a free tour.

Definitely take up that offer!

Really interesting little historical gem right in the middle of the historic centre of the city.

This is a great little stop when visiting Providence. It holds a lot of history and the volunteer guides are very knowledgeable and there speak from the heart. You get a lot of information without getting bored. The tour doesn't take a lot of time out of your day.

I was flagged down by a docent on a balmy winter day and offered a tour of this charming little house full of American and RI history. My guide adjusted the tour to my interests, sometimes stopping mid-sentence if she saw me looking at an object that wasn't related to what she was talking about! I asked her numerous questions on a variety of subjects and didn't stump her once. She was extremely knowledgable and enthusiastic. I learned a lot that day and promptly sent three of my traveling companions to check it out. They enjoyed it as much as I did. What a great accident!

My family of five recently stopped off to visit this gem on a road trip. We had been to New York and Boston and had seen many sights! On the way back we stopped here and are so very glad we did. I sent messages before arrival to ask about hours/admission (which is donation only) and they were extremely prompt in reply. When we arrived, we were greeted instantly and our tour guide was welcoming. Even though several people arrived around the same time, they had plenty of guides and coordinated well so that our tours were personal and comfortable. Our guide was so informative, not only about the house, but little bits of information about the community. He interacted with our children with ease and even brought in related events from our home state of Virginia. My 11 &13 year olds were totally absorbed and even my 7 year old listened well. I absolutely encourage others to make this stop in your travels and adventures.

We visited on June 12, 2019. ALEX our tour guide was amazing with all his knowledge and stories from the past. Really made a great experience. Well worth your time, it’s free(believe they take donations). If you love history don’t miss this.

If you’ve seen the play or movie of 1776 as many times as I have, this home drew me. Quite a colorful character but his home is really what I think a ordinary founder of our nation would live in. Docents are excellent and both extra knowledgeable about both the times and the family. Please stop in and see how the founders spent their life, when not in the “foul, filithy town of Philadelphia.

I just stumbled onto this place, despite apparently having walked right by it for decades. There was a tour immediately available, so I took advantage and enjoyed it. He was quite a guy, as this photo attests -- an incredible resume!

This part of Providence by the Brown campus has a more down-to-earth feel than its Ivy League counterpart in the Republic of Cambridge - Haavad - without the pretentiousness afforded in Harvard Square. A great place to stroll around and take in the historical part of Providence's early years.

Beautiful house with the decor of the period. Wonderful, friendly, and knowledgeable tour guide. Several rooms in the home to explore with explanatory plaques on the walls. Great learning activity for the family.

I absolutely loved it! 100% MUST SEE. While you're in Providence, don't miss a Wednesday guided tour! I want to thank Kim N. Clark for an amazing, empowering and full of historical facts tour! It was so great, I can't even describe all of my impressions! If you like history, the Stephen Hopkins House is a right place for you, go and see it!!!

The Stephen Hopkins house is full of interest. Besides that George Washington visited and slept there, and that Stephen Hopkins was at the hub of early Rhode Island polticial history, you get great information about life in 18th century Providence, how the city was initially laid out, and the early economy (particularly shipping related).
I have twice now been on tours with Mark at the Stephen Hopkins house. He has a lot to tell, so don't be in a rush. It is a rich serving of America's heritage that he serves up, and well worth savoring. Tour is 60-90 minutes. The house is not large, but is full of objects of historical interest, not a few of which belonged to Hopkins himself.

Not only was the history for this historic home abundant and fascinating, the docent was filled with such rich knowledge. I work in a huge history museum in NYC and this was one of the highlights of our trip to Providence! My husband and 13 year old daughter and I couldn't get enough!

So, full disclosure, the two of us are history nerds. Not professional historians, just two people with a deep love for history and particularly colonial American history. Therefore, we go to a LOT of these historical sites and rarely do we get so much for our time and money. Our tour guide, David, was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us a tour of this gem that lasted well over an hour. The tour is free, though you will be given an impressively low-pressure opportunity to make a donation. It is one of the rare houses of its time in which visitors are allowed to enter all rooms, not just peer in from a hallway. Most of the furniture did not actually belong to Hopkins himself, but is authentic to the period. The home does however contain many books and artifacts which belonged to Hopkins. Do not miss this spot if you have an interest in history!

This is one of many beautiful colonial homes that you can see either driving or walking the historic Providence neighborhood of College Hill. However, this maroon, wood home belongs to one of the most prominent Rhode Islanders not named Williams or Brown. It is available to tour but not on a holiday like our Labor Day visit. However, our group enjoyed seeing the house and learning about Stephen Hopkins who was a multi-term colonial Governor, the state's Chief Justice and a signor of the Declaration of Independence. I highly encourage you to at least see the house and beautiful grounds.

The tour was pretty quick and seemed to focus too much on whether or not Hopkins owned slaves and the time period vs. who he actually was and his role in the founding of our nation. The building has been moved several times from its original location and does not offer much period information. Overall I would skip this if you are short on time. The building and displays need some attention. The gardens outside are better kept.

The Stephen Hopkins House twice escaped demolition by way of moving up the block. I'm willing to overlook that lack of integrity of location for this early and mid-eighteenth century house since it is an outstanding resource. Other architectural history buff will enjoy another dubious 1920s restoration (courtesy of Norman Isham.) The volunteer docent-led tour highlights not only Stephen Hopkins and his influential family, but the lives of the enslaved people who lived in the house and the more ordinary Rhode Islanders who lived in the neighborhood as well as the economics goings on. Our guide was very knowledgeable. The contrast of the Hopkins House with the nearby Brown House as well as Hopkins' will are notable points of interest.

Tucked in and dwarfed by the court house, this piece of history is something every Rhode Islander should see. The tour is very informational, not too long and the staff is great. Walking distance from Kennedy Plaza.

Exploring the area and happened upon this little gem. We had a tour with Alex Trayford and was blown away by his love of history and this little house. It was amazing to hear all about this area of the world and about this man that signed the declaration of independence and knew George Washington.

I've lived in Providence for almost 6 years and I finally took the time to tour the Gov. Stephen Hopkins House. He seems to be overshadowed by tales Roger Williams and the Brown family.

Hopkins was an amazing figure in colonial America's history. Those of us who live in Rhode Island are lucky to have his house here (the oldest building still standing in Providence), and preserved and open to the public thanks to the State of RI and the National Society of Colonial Dames.

The docent did a great job of making the life and times of Hopkins come alive. I especially loved her description of what the family and visitors (including George Washington) saw when they looked out the windows of their parlor towards the bustling Providence waterfront of the mid-1700s.

He was a moderately prosperous civic leader who, in Forrest Gump fashion, seemed to have a role in many pivotal moments in our nation's birth. Imagine the heroic heart of the man who, upon signing the Declaration of Independence at age 69 and afflicted with Parkinson's Disease, says "My hand trembles, but my heart does not."

The tour also highlights his role as a slave-owner and how his view of slavery evolved over his lifetime.

I would definitely recommend taking this tour, but with these caveats: do it on a cool day and make sure there aren't more than a handful of people on the tour. The spaces are small and it felt claustrophobic at times.

My friend and i came here for a school project and our tour guide gave us so much wonderful information and made sure we understood everything! Gave us a lot of info to work with for our project!!

Thank you for Susie and all volunteers for knowledgeable and inspiring tour especially with heat today! I enjoy wonderful tour and truly learning a lot. 👏👍😎

I visited the Stephen Hopkins house and was lucky to have Michael as a guide. The house was beautiful, but it was Michael’s knowledge and enthusiasm about the history of Stephen Hopkins that really impressed me. I regret that I only had time for the short tour because Michael had a wealth of knowledge and was brilliant putting events in context. I cannot recommend Michael’s tour enough. If you go - ask for Michael.

Cheers -

Thomas Michna

we went to visit this historical home a past RI governor. It shown the period of life of early RI residence in a very detail way. The small space is easy to get around & the staffs were very knowledgable about the background of the history

I accidentally came upon the Stephen Hopkin’s house today and stopped in for a visit. How fortunate I was to do so as Alex, my tour guide, was a wealth of knowledge and very welcoming. Alex skillfully addressed the accomplishments and complexities of Stephen’s 18th century life—from moving his family to Providence, signing the Declaration of Independence, holding the office of governor, and owning slaves. I’ve spent the remainder of the day reflecting on the importance of artifacts, place, and gifted storytelling in the messy but beautiful discipline of history.

Very interesting and historically significant person. The house has many original and period pieces of furniture.

Each year a group of us try and see presidential historic sites on President's weekend. This year we found a great spot where we were able to stand in the same room that George Washington was entertained by Stephen Hopkins. This was great because the house and the tour provided an interesting and eye-opening view of the area's history. But what was equally great was how warmly we were greeted and treated by both Kim, who oversees the property and Mike our tour guide. Their passion for the home comes through on the tour. Don't miss it if you are visiting Providence and it is right downtown and easy to get to.

This is a free or donation only tour. The staff do a great job taking you through the property. You will see the entire home, from main living areas to the slave quarters. Furnishings are authentic to the period.

Our guide through the house, Jim, was extremely knowledgeable and flexible during our tour through the house. It was a particularly busy day at the house and Jim still managed to show us each room and give us a brief, but interesting history of the house and Stephen Hopkins’ connection to early Rhode Island history.

If you like history, you should definitely stop by here. The tour was about 30min with about 5-6 people. Tours start as people walk in.

I learned not only about Steven Hopkins and history of Providence, but also how people's lifestyle has changed. I thought it was very interesting insight.

Great, fun, historical tour. We were on our way to dinner and stumbled on this tour. The docent was great and did a quick tour for us so we could still make our dinner reservations.

Kim Clark was an illuminating guide as she told the story of the Stephen Hopkins House with a clear eye not only for what the life of its inhabitants might have meant for their own day but also what their reality might mean for our own. It is remarkable how this historic site sees itself in its unique, true light as a resource both for our present and for the future that has yet to be with a glowing sense of vision and of mission.

Amazingly preserved colonial home of one of RI's most important people: Stephen Hopkins. Hopkins signed the Declaration of Independence and also served as Governor and Chief Justice. He had a fascinating life. George Washington visited his home twice. The tour is great - very informative and thought - provoking and simply seeing the house and the way he and his family lived is eye-opening. They have some wonderful original artifacts, too. Our tour guide, Elizabeth, was awesome. She made me want to go immediately to get a biography of Hopkins.

Stephen Hopkins was the founding father and governor of Rhode Island and signatory of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington had stayed at this house. Their are many gorgeous artifacts and heirlooms. The tour is fascinating and highly recommended.
This is NOT the house of Stephen Hawking the English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author - as one of the reviewers posted.

Rainy Saturday sightseeing. Husband and I walked in the rain from The John Brown House. We were given a tour of the house and learned many interesting things. He was an original signer of The Declaration of Independence. Great place to visit.

We stopped in during RISD Craft Fair and were so glad we did. Our tour guide, Scott, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. It was just the right amount of info for our pea brains to handle and related in an interesting way. Lots of tidbits about the history of the area as well. Highly recommend.

What a delightful find! A very important home for not only the history of Rhode Island but, for the formation of our young nation. The house of this state's first govenor has stood through centuries of vital history and influential people of America's infancy. George Washington actually did sleep here...and gifted the govenor with a crystal decanter set that sits proudly on an ancient sideboard.
Enjoy and feel free to ask questions of the home's hospitable and well-informed docents.

This is such a gem, a very old house maintained in perfect original condition. It is a perfect museum for children to learn about history and how people lived in a different century (how small their beds were and how crowded and simply they were living, compared to today's wealthy). President George Washington was hosted in this house. Overall, a true gem not to be missed.

The house looks very old but it's well preserved. We didn't get the tour because it was closed during our visit (Columbus weekend).
The streets around are beautiful, small scale and nice architecture.

This is an easy house to miss. In fact I walked past it several times not realizing its significance. There is a nice garden outside and some good views of downtown.

have gone past this house museum many times on Benefit street.Tiny house looks bigger inside, Martha, our guide, gave a great informative tour and showed us the room Washington slept in. Good glimpse of early Rhode Island

Interesting history of Stephen Hopkins, available in a short time with well-informed and enthusiastic tour guides.

Lovely house and garden. But what really blew out mind was the knowledge shared by Michael - a great tour guide, high school volunteer. That was beyond impressive. Passion always is - thanks again.

So much history! Great tour with Alex, our fabulous guide. In a great location that we found just walking around the Brown area. And it’s Free!! We would definitely recommend!

This house belonged to Stephen Hopkins, a founding father that signed the Declaration of Independence. It has been moved from its original location and is off benefit street. Free admission and the tours are quick which I like. They are opened late on waterfire nights.

We were very fortunate to have Kim Clark, Chair of the Stephen Hopkins House arrange a special house tour during the week we were visiting Providence. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for her kindness and consideration plus the added bonus of having Ms. Clark as the docent for this visit. The Stephen Hopkins House is meticulously kept by the Colonial Dames and the history surrounding Stephen Hopkins is just incredible. The tour emphasized the man as well as the statesman and the history of the period including a visit by George Washington. You can easily spend two hours absorbing the basics and enjoying a wonderful garden out back of the house. This historic House Museum tour is definitely a must for all those who seek a greater understanding of history as well as delving into Stephen Hopkins, statesman, business and family man. I would strongly suggest that anyone visiting Rhode Island to put this tour on their agenda.
On a personal note, for those coming with car, parking can be very tricky and limited. Weekend parking is easier but if coming during the week, you may want to investigate parking garages or metered parking several blocks away by Brown University.

Being an 18th-century house, it is rather small. You could zip through it in 5 minutes, but you shouldn't: the (free!) guided tour is wonderfully engaging and informative. The lady even admitted us to the house and started the tour 25 minutes before the official opening time. We learned a lot not just about the house and its residents, but about Providence and Colonial America.

An excellent use of around 45 minutes. The engaging tour guides will take you around the house and you’ll learn about one of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Steeped in history, you’ll learn more about America’s fight for freedom.

Stephen Hopkins was a soldier and early governor of Rhode Island. His simple and exquisitely restored home and garden sits atop College Hill next to the enormous pile of the Georgian-style Superior Court. Enjoy the rooms and authentic gardens and the view from Benefit Street down to the Financial District.

This historic house is both well maintained and managed. A docent will meet you at the front door and take you on a personal tour (i.e., not "canned" but based on your interests and questions). In addition to stories about the house's residents, visitors, and authentic objects in it, our docent talked about nearby buildings and the Waterfire later in the evening. Overall, this was an unexpected and delightful introduction to historic Providence. Only at the end is a donation box pointed out so no there's no required entry fee.

This historical house was open during a Water Fire event. We toured the house with an informative docent, who was able to answer all of our questions. The house is well maintained,and provides a fascinating insight into mid 1700's living. Informative and enjoyable. The adjacent garden was candlelit as well.

My wife and I were just walking by when we stopped to look at the house. A very lovely museum worker came out and greeted us and invited us in. We had no idea who Stephen Hopkins was, not being from the area. We were very pleased be given a tour by Isaac who worked very hard to show us around, provide great historical background for artifacts, and answer our questions. We were only traveling through, but would love to come back. Also, we had our small dog with us which they allowed us to bring in. They said this was a case-by-case decision so your mileage may vary and your dog may not be allowed in. The entire staff was so nice and even offered our dog some water! The museum was free but runs from donation, which we fully supported. If you’re passing through or even live in Providence, this is a great little trip to expose you to some wonderful history.

Thanks!

The house is small but well displayed with objects that reflect the time period, the inhabitants, and the political affairs that were happening during the18th century. The variety of objects made it possible for the conversation to go in many directions depending on interests. There are no ropes or gated areas in the exhibit rooms, which makes it feel more authentic, and nothing was inaccessible as the rooms were displayed as if the owners had just left. The docents were well informed and engaging, not something we found at the other two museum we visited that day.

We had arrived 20 minutes after closing but we were greeted with a smile and an apology for not being able to accommodate us. The docent encouraged us to walk the exterior, which has lovely gardens and fantastic views. After we strolled through the gardens the door opened and another docent asked if we wanted a quick walk-thru of the house as they closed up. Unexpected and appreciated, this illustrates how much the all-volunteer staff are dedicated to sharing this resource with the public...thank you.

The house may be small but it is packed full of detail - great artefacts, fascinating little pieces dotted through the museum, and staffed by two very personable and informative volunteers - thank you Martha and Kim. The house has been moved up the hill from the original riverside position and although it may be dwarfed by other houses on Benefit Street, it holds it own. Pride of place probably goes to a set of decanters presented to the governor by George Washington himself, but there are many other little items to see - a rare wax portrait of Jefferson, various portraits including a possible drawing of Hopkins himself, (though as a Quaker he did not encourage drawings to be made), original documents relating to the governor's life as well as some great furniture from the time. It may not be open very frequently but seek this out.

This is a 1700s house with lots of history that has been well preserved with love and attention to detail.
Some of the contents are original and some period pieces added for context. The former are carefully ID'd.
We got an excellent tour from Dan, who permitted us to come into the middle of one, which he then completed for us. Chris also added additional color and commentary in the kitchen, where we dawdled and chatted about history and its relationship to current events (read between the lines). We learned a lot about local history and enjoyed the architecture and contents. Very well done. I would say a 'must see'.

Excellent trip! The director, Kim Clark, gave us the tour. She was knowledgeable, informative, and highly engaged. She answered all of our questions and had a genuine passion for this site. The house is beautifully maintained and true to the era, presenting a small but detailed view of life in Providence in the 18th Century. It’s a fairly short tour but well worth the time.

My wife and I visited Providence to see a few historic properties around Brown University. The memorable one was not grand but one lived in by several generations on the first governor of Rhode Island. You must take the free guided tour presented by very knowledgeable docents. The house dates from the early seventeen hundreds and is full of authentic period pieces.

They have free guided tours from time to time, apparently. And this is an amazing experience: you can have a glimpse of that distant century when the Declaration of Independence was signed. Even more: you can see how people used to live and how they carried about their daily chores. This is a very nice experience, and an enriching one. You should expect about an hour-long tour, and you should not hesitate asking questions!

The Stephen Hopkins House is very beautiful and the grounds are also very nicely done and kept. The view from this property is incredible. It's worth a few minutes (or more) to enjoy the garden area.

history that was made in this house can not be mesured. A Governor of Rhode Island ten times,a man who signed the Decloration of Independence,a home in which Pres.G.Washington came to visit twice. This is American history and where some of it was made. The house is kept up in outstanding condition by a group of caring people. Please also note it had a special room for the slave who worked in the home at the time. This was common among people of means in those days. Washington had a number of slaves at Mt.Vernon. Reading was big in the days of no radio or TV.so most homes had its own library as this one did. The view now from the home is better now than when it was built at a different location. A great place to visit if you are from RI or out of state. a gem to be seen.

Upon entering the Stephen Hopkins House, I was greeted by one of the several tour guides, (Lilly), whom presented the guided tour of this former home to a signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, ten time Governor of Rhode Island, and, friend to both Roger Williams and George Washington!

There are many actual pieces of original furnishings, and, all are original colonial furnishings from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, truly remarkable! My tour guide was very informative and honest, about the historical tour and content of the house.

A must see for history lovers, tourists, and, interior designers! (Note the mouse papers on the floor?) ASK!

We paid a visit to Governor Stephen Hopkins house, because we found out one of my husbands relatives Southward Griffiths was born in that house in 1760. Our tour guide Kim was so informative. She took us on a tour room by room and gave us very exciting details of Steven Hopkins life, the history of the house, where they held meetings, and details about the town, she even showed us where George Washington slept when he came to visit, the gift he gave Stephen Hopkins, which is still there for all to see. She told us the house used to be down by the water and had been moved to its current location. It's definitely worth taking the tour. There is no charge for the tour but donations are accepted and for the amount of knowledge you leave with about the life and history, you will want to contribute! We didn't find out much about my husband relative but it was nice seeing where he was born. Kim the tour guide is even going to see if she can find more information for us. So take the tour it's so worth it!!!!

Went with my mom and sister as part of our mother/daughter weekend. Our tour guide, Alex, was super knowledgeable and we spent most of the tour geeking out about history together. My mom, a nice history nerd, had a BLAST.

I was really impressed by the number of the original artifacts the house had, many historic homes only have reproductions. They did a great job maintaining the house, and the garden is beautiful. Definitely a fun, hidden treasure of a museum.

We had a wonderful visit to this fascinating historical house, the oldest house in Providence; lived-in by a signer of the Declaration of Independence; and with a bedroom where George Washington slept. The docent did a phenomenal job of bringing the historical period to life. I'd highly recommend to any visitors to Providence with even a slight interest in our history. I am a novice in American history, and I visited with a friend who is a college professor of history, and we both loved the tour.

Informative tour provided by dedicated volunteers. I've lived in Providence for nearly 20 years and have passed by this place many times. I'm ashamed to admit I never knew its history.

I grew up in Providence - nearby Esek Hopkins Middle School, even - and never visited the Stephen Hopkins House until I happened to walk by during a Waterfire and told the house was open. We were offered a long tour or short tour, opted for short, and it was a completely unexpected surprise that made me feel closer to the city! Hopkins signed the declaration of independence and the house is filled with fascinating personal possessions - like a gavel made from wood of the Gaspee. A whiskey decanter set (possibly? Definitely? I can't remember ) from George Washington, who stayed at the house twice. David, the tour guide, was great and left me curious for a full tour. Exiting through the gardens in the evening left me feeling - where did I just go? What past world did I step into? Why did it take me so long to go here?

When in Providence you should soak up the local history. Visiting the home of Governor Stephen Hopkins should be something you do. It is not a large home and the tour does not take more than an hour but it is worthwhile. When do you get a chance to visit the home of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The tour guides are very knowledgeable about the life and times of Governor Hopkins. Another reason to stop in is that there is no entrance fee; you are encouraged to leave a donation. One notable fact is that George Washington visited the home of Governor Hopkins.

Fascinating tour, the guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the house and the life of Stephen Hopkins. Well worth a visit.

We were blown away by this amazing small and free museum in Providence. Our guide, Lizzie, was amazing and offered so much insight into the fascinating history of Stephen Hopkins and his family. The house itself is so unique and has been restored beautifully, and the history behind it is very compelling. We would definitely recommend a visit to Stephen Hopkins house and the beautiful neighborhood it sits in.

My husband and I were very excited that the house was open for tours last night! It was great learning about the history within the house. All the staff was super nice and very knowledgeable!

We had just arrived in Providence on a Saturday afternoon and were exploring the town. Everything seemed to be closed in the historic area. My husband saw a big sign at The Stephen Hopkins House that said Open. We walked up to it and someone came outside and led us in to a personal tour guide for our family. The guide walked us through the house and did a great tour. I can't remember his name but he was a high school history teacher. He was very personable which made our tour so enjoyable. Highly recommend this house!

When looking for things to do and see, I stumbled upon this historic site recommended on trip advisor. Wow, how cool is this place! It’s free and they have guides to take you around for your own personal tour of this historical house from the governor of RI who signed the Declaration of Independence. And you can see the room and bed where George Washington stayed! Our guide David was a wealth of knowledge and historical info about Hopkins and everything in this era. And if you walk up a street or two, you’re on the Brown University campus! Loved this area with all the beautiful Victorian homes!

My daughter and I spent a Saturday afternoon exploring the richness of Providence. Others have already mentioned what to find in the house. So I am going to make this review personal. The Stephen Hopkins House is well worth the time, the house is well preserved and we were transported back in time thanks to the wonderful volunteers and Chair, Micheal and Kim. Michael is a young high school student and was an abundance of knowledge, very thorough and impressive. Kim was so warm and welcoming as were the other volunteers and it is obvious she care much about the people coming in to visit and taking good professional care of them. We had a very enjoyable experience. And learned a lot in the time we spent there. Thank you.

The place isn't large. We went during Waterfire festival time, so the tour was free. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable about the house and the Providence area. It was very informative and provided a great picture of life in Providence from the earliest of days. Good stop for the background. Thumbs up!

As I traveled to Providence, I noticed that there really wasn't a city museum or history museum proper. After touring here, I realized that the history can be found in the preservation of a founding father's home. The home is tended to by a group of eager volunteers, and its founding, addition, and move through Providence's history is well-documented. The tour and home offer a slice of life to 300 years in the past, thoroughly documenting Hopkins' role as a titan of industry and founding father, and even his family life as told in each room of his house. The day-to-day activities of his household are told in each room, and gave insight to how wealthy people interacted with their family and society as a whole. You even get to see another place where President Washington slept. Overall, a great, free experience.

Mr.H opkins himself brought our tour to life, not a boring, staid museum visit by any means.highly recommend.

I brought my parents from out of town to learn about some Rhode Island history. Our tour guide Alex was very interesting and knowledgeable about the entirety of the house. We will certainly be back and we are amazed of how much history is packed into this tiny location

This was one of the highlights of my visit to Providence. As soon as I walked in I was offered a free guided tour by an extremely knowledgeable and friendly guide, who told me all about the amazing history of the building and its former occupant Stephen Hopkins. Most objects and pieces of furniture are original and you can really get a sense of what life used to be like 300 years ago (as opposed to the much more popular house of Paul Revere in Boston, where nothing is original and you even have to pay an admission fee). Hopkins' house was a wonderful surprise in Providence and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Katrina is extremely unfit to be a tour guide. It was a brutally painful experience. Very socially awkward and did not speak clearly.

We were walking by the house when one of the wonderful volunteers mentioned the free tour. It was great to learn the history of the city and the life of Stephen Hopkins and how much he impacted the region.

We stumbled across this open house on a waterfire night. The docent inside was friendly and knowledgeable and gave us a great tour!

Stephen Hopkins House is a great place to see while in Providence. George Washington slept there. Stephen Hopkins is best know for signing the Declaration of Independence.It is fascinating how the house wasn ever modernized and has survived largely intact, though not on its original site. Stephen Hopkins’ political career progressed from Town Clerk through representative government and the court system in the city of Providence and ultimately the colony of Rhode Island. He spent 20 years in the Assembly, 11 years as our third Chief Justice and had ten terms as Governor. Under Hopkins’ leadership, Providence built bridges, and surveyed & cobblestone-paved its streets. Hopkins established the city’s first public lending library, which still exists today as the Providence Athenaeum, its first newspaper “The Providence Gazette & Country Journal” & the seventh college in the New World, now Brown University. A strong backer of the College of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (later named Brown University), Hopkins was one of the school's most ardent supporters, and became the institution's first chancellor. He died in Providence in 1785 at the age of 78, and is buried in the North Burial Ground there. Hopkins has been called Rhode Island's greatest statesman.

I have to say that our guide for the tour, David, was fantastic. His enthusiasm was infectious and he was so passionate about sharing his knowledge about the house. You should really go just to spend an hour in his company.

Governor Stephen Hopkins House is a beautifully renovated American colonial house. Stephen Hopkins was an important figure of American history who rubbed sholders with the "big guys": just to give you an example, George Washington visited Hopkins twice and slept over! That's just one tiny detail you find out when you visit the house; the guides are extremely well trained and eager to satisfy your curiosities - not to mention that they are utterly kind!

While walking past the Hopkin’s House today, they were inviting people in for free tours. Seeing it has been many years since my last visit, I decided to take them up on it. What a pleasant surprise. David, the tour guide, was very informative and eager to tell us all there was to know about Stephen Hopkins. David was an excellent representative of Classical High School.

I took a nice tour of this small historic home this past fall and found it really enjoyable. It's only open select dates but really worth a visit.

Visited the Stephen Hopkins house today! It was so interesting to view this house, and see how well preserved it is. The guide was very informative and explained his life when he lived in the house. I highly recommend visiting this house if you are visiting Providence.

Tour home that was lived in during the 17th century. You get a sense of the way people lived back in those days. Providence is a very old city and important part of American history.

Stopped here spontaneously while in providence. Engaging tour guides with slice of providence history. Worth your time.

We were walking with my friend and a lady invited us to visit this house. We were offered free tour as well which was surprising. The guy was very knowledgeable and told us alot of interesting facts of the house and history. Highly recommend.

Very knowledgeable staff of volunteers. Interesting place to visit. Staff enjoyed sharing their knowledge. Recommend visiting!

Very impressed with the knowledge of the staff. Didn’t realize just how important Stephen Hopkins was to history!

Although we got a quick version of the tour, it was very informative and very interesting. Worth visiting.

This home is bursting with history. Tours are free and given by enthusiastic docents. You will be in the same location George Washington was - twice. You will view period clothing, furniture and every day items. From wig stands to wax bust of Benjamin Franklin you won’t want to miss this delightful gem tuck away on a beautiful Street.

I was the only one there for the 11am tour, so I got a personal tour. Very informative and interesting. The guide Dave did a wonderful job setting the scene of the house back in the day.

My teenage daughter and I set out to explore Governor Stephen Hopkins House for fun ,and what we found was not only fun but interesting.An incredible piece of history dating back to the 1700's ,this home boasts some of the most influential political and historical men of all time.George Washington was even a guest here ,leaving a token of his gratitude which is still present in the parlor of this grand home. Such an interesting look into American and Rhode Island's rich history ,all nestled onto a small side street amongst large buildings and a mecca of educational diversity.A fantastic tour with very friendly and knowledgable Docents.A must see on anyones list of things to do in Rhode Island.Highly recommended .Be sure to check out the Sample room as well ,art in its simplest form,amazing.

We had a wonderful time. It was pouring out, and the docent welcomes us in. She gave us a wonderful, detailed and interesting tour. I love learning about important, but under- known folks! I highly recommend seeing this house! And, it had moved all about the neighborhood! Thanks for such a lovely tour!

While walking around Providence, my husband and I happened to pass The Stephen Hopkins House. The volunteer tour guide, Sue, was warm, friendly and very knowledgeable about Stephen Hopkins.

The tour of this house might be short, but it’s not short on importance. I learned a lot about one of Rhode Island’s most important Revolutionary figures - Stephen Hopkins. My tour guide was very knowledgeable and great about answering my questions. I appreciate her not glazing over the family’s history of slave ownership and his brother’s foray into the slave trade. The garden is delightful and has beautiful views. Absolutely worth a visit!

I was delightfully impressed to be able to ask for a tour on Saturday with out notice. The volunteers really knew their history. Not only do you learn a little of the life during the 1700's, but also how much Providence has changed. I had never know SH was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Excellent tour.
Now that you asked about a website, I decided to look and found a FB page.

Last Saturday evening my wife and I decided to take a brief walk around the city just prior to Waterfire. As we were walking back to our vehicle around 7:00 P.M. we were greeted by a young lady who advised us that the Stephen Hopkins house was offering free tours at that time. Being extremely interested in local history we decided to take them up on the offer.

Once inside we were greeted by a young man named David who was going to be our tour guide. This young man was articulate, well-informed and most enthusiastic about his subject matter. In about one hour he gave us a complete tour of the house. We were surprised to discover how many of the objects in the home were actually owned by Stephen Hopkins. This tour certainly made our evening. Highly recommended.

We were greatly disappointed to make the trek to this historic location to tour it during the hours the website said it was open. It was not open at that time. While we were outside taking pictures at least 3 other groups arrived only to find out the house was not open.

So happy we stopped for a tour. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and so kind to accompany us even though they had a large group at the same time. Wonderful piece of American history.

Awesome visit to the Steven Hopkins house. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and had a passion for the history of the house. I highly recommend visiting when you are in Providence RI.

If you want to step back into time to Rhode Island's colonial days, while you are exploring the area around Brown, do not miss a chance to explore the house of one of Rhode Island's first governors - Stephen Hopkins - you will NOT be disappointed.

I found this place by accident-- I was on my way somewhere else and was invited to take a tour. Since I was with my dog, I was about to decline, but the docent said that I could bring him inside. That changed everything. (My dog was small enough for me to carry up some steep and narrow stairs inside the house.)

Any place that welcomes my dog automatically scores points with me.

The tour was excellent. I know a fair amount of Rhode Island history (having lived here for most of my life) and this place is a treasure. The docents are all volunteers and have a real love for the place and an impressive knowledge not just of house and its residents, but also of the society and culture that they lived in. (I used to be a guide in the Newport mansions and historic houses, and it takes a long time to learn even the basics of a tour.)

So take the tour and make a donation on the way out.

Took tour of Stephen Hawkins house will visiting Providence. Good history about Hawkins, his story and signing of Declaration of Independence. Tour is about an hour and is offered for free. Hours are limited, we got lucky to there when they were open.

It's not very often you can say that you stood in the bedroom where George Washington slept! We would have walked straight past this place but luckily we didn't. A very informative experience and I'm glad we stopped by.