Smith's Castle - North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Located just off Route 1 in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Smith’s Castle is one of the oldest surviving houses in the state. The current structure was built in 1678 on the site of an earlier trading post established by Roger Williams in 1637. That first house was destroyed during King Philip’s War in 1676, when colonial settlements across southern New England were attacked and burned.
The rebuilt home became known as Smith’s Castle after its owner, Richard Smith, who had operated the original post. Over the centuries, the house served as a residence, a working farm, and a gathering place for the community. Archaeological excavations on the property have uncovered thousands of artifacts, reflecting both the lives of early European settlers and the Narragansett people who lived in the region long before.
In the 20th century, preservationists recognized the importance of the building and its surrounding site. Smith’s Castle was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968, ensuring that its layered history would be protected. Today, it stands as a rare physical link to Rhode Island’s colonial past and the conflicts that shaped early New England.
Matt Lambros RI North Kingstown Sep 03, 2025 Architecture Back in Time History
Sep 03, 2025
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