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All United States Rhode Island

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Rhode Island

75 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Rhode Island

Updated August 8, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
Newport
The main reading room of the Athenaeum.
Providence
the entrance to the fort
Jamestown
Pawtucket
Lighthouse and Coast Guard administration buildings
Narragansett
The Pothier Family Mausoleum.
Woonsocket
All Cities
  1. Jamestown
  2. Little Compton
  3. Narragansett
  4. Newport
  5. North Kingstown
  6. Pawtucket
  7. Providence
  8. Warwick
  9. Woonsocket
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Rhode Island

The main reading room of the Athenaeum.

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence Athenaeum

A 19th century library favored by Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, known by locals as "the Ath."
Interior exhibitions at Musée Patamécanique,

Bristol, Rhode Island

Musée Patamécanique

The exact whereabouts of this surreal cabinet of curiosities are rarely the same place twice.
H.P. Lovecraft's last residence

Providence, Rhode Island

H.P. Lovecraft House

Last residence of H.P. Lovecraft featured in his story "The Haunter of the Dark."

Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Green Animals Topiary Garden

Unicorns, elephants, and bears, oh my!

Newport, Rhode Island

The White Horse Tavern

The oldest still-operating tavern in the United States was once owned by a pirate.
Grave marker of H.P. Lovecraft

Providence, Rhode Island

H.P. Lovecraft’s Grave

Final resting place of one of the classic authors of horror literature.

Exeter, Rhode Island

Grave of Mercy Brown

The final resting place of New England's last "vampire."

Providence, Rhode Island

John Hay Library

Books bound in human skin and H. P. Lovecraft's letters are among a few of the treasures this library has to offer.
See All 75 Things To Do in Rhode Island

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island

The White Horse Tavern

The oldest still-operating tavern in the United States was once owned by a pirate.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Modern Diner

The first ever diner included on the National Register of Historic Places is famous for its custard French toast.
Tennessee Myotonic Goats

Newport, Rhode Island

The Swiss Village

A railroad magnate's replica village has become home to a genetic seed bank for rare breeds of livestock.

Providence, Rhode Island

Haven Brothers Diner

From horses to stainless-steel trucks, this iconic Providence burger wagon is one of the oldest mobile diners in the country.
See all 6 Places to Eat in Rhode Island
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

6 Huge Things in Tiny Rhode Island

The smallest state in America is often the butt of jokes. Rhode Island is neither a road nor an island, and it was once famously parodied in the now-defunct website “How Many Rhode Islands”—a simple tool that allowed you to see just how many Rhode Islands could squeeze inside a given country. The United States could contain 3,066 Rhode Islands, and Russia could hold 5,445. But the tiny state has a rather grand history. Rhode Island was founded on the principle of religious freedom, was the first of the Thirteen Colonies to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown, and was one of only two states not to ratify the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol. Many of the state’s attractions still loom large, including a 58-foot-long blue fiberglass termite and an improbably large blue bear slumped under a lampshade.

View Itinerary
Honestly, the tallest building in the state is still a little dinky, compared to skyscrapers elsewhere.

Explore Rhode Island

Architectural Oddities 11
History 9
Homes 8
History & Culture 7
Ruins 7
Design 6
Art 6
Cemeteries 5
Statues 5
Animals 5
Houses 5
Eccentric Homes 4
Places To Stay 4
Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

Rhode Island Leaderboard

Places Added

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    e1savage
    9
  2. Avatar image for Fred Cherrygarden
    Fred Cherrygarden
    7
  3. Avatar image for JWOcker
    JWOcker
    6
  4. Avatar image for Maria Valeria Diaz
    Maria Valeria Diaz
    3
  5. Avatar image for bakedinthehole
    bakedinthehole
    3

Places Edited

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    e1savage
    19
  2. Avatar image for Rachel
    Rachel
    15
  3. Avatar image for Fred Cherrygarden
    Fred Cherrygarden
    8
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    Collector of Experiences
    7
  5. M
    Martin
    6

Places Visited

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    59
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    50
  3. M
    mdnvn53
    46
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    Queen of Adventure
    45
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    kevinpb
    43

Recent Rhode Island Activity

  • J

    joshmadd3

    wants to go to John Hay Library

  • A

    annettesapp

    wants to go to 'Moonrise Kingdom' Beach

  • A

    annettesapp

    wants to go to Green Animals Topiary Garden

  • A

    annettesapp

    wants to go to The Fantastic Umbrella Factory

  • J

    jahondagneu17

    wants to go to Stephen Harris House

Stories About Rhode Island

Tuberculosis—or consumption, as it was known in the 1800s—was often associated with vampirism. Those suffering from the disease grew pale and weak, as seen in this photomontage from 1858.

The Real-Life Vampire Autopsies of the Victorian Era

When medicine and folklore collide, strange things happen.
by April White
October 14, 2022
Statue of Roger Williams.

Podcast: Roger Williams Root

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
July 20, 2022

Lists Featuring Rhode Island

Big Blue Bug
Belcourt's east façade, originally rear of the castle, faces Bellevue Avenue.
The main reading room of the Athenaeum.

10 Big Things in America's Smallest State

Some of Rhode Island's wonders are larger than life.

10

Including Big Blue Bug, Belcourt Castle, and Gun Totem

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