Buttonwoods Beach Historic District

Buttonwoods Beach Historic District is a neighborhood in Warwick with houses built around 1880-1890 in Victorian style, lined with mature trees and facing Greenwich Bay. The buildings stand in their original locations, showing how this seaside settlement was organized with streets, homes, and public spaces.

Reverend Moses Bixby founded this summer colony in 1871, following the model of Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard as a religious retreat destination. The planned community grew rapidly as wealthy families built homes along the waterfront over the following decades.

The district shows how a coastal community took shape in the 1800s through planned development and individual homes built along bay-facing streets. Visitors can see how residents organized their summer retreat with both private residences and shared public spaces.

The beach has lifeguards, shallow water areas for children, sun shelters, and restrooms available to visitors. A network of paths winds through the area, offering opportunities for walking and outdoor activities while you explore the neighborhood.

An old farmhouse dating to 1715 still stands within the district, marking the shift from agricultural land to a planned summer retreat. This surviving building offers a physical reminder of how the area transformed over two centuries.