Nightingale–Brown House

The Nightingale-Brown House is a three-story wooden residence in Providence built in 1792 with a central projecting section and five bays. The entrance is accented by sidelights and fanlight glazing, and the property includes a library wing added in the 19th century as well as a carriage house.

Colonel Joseph Nightingale commissioned architect Caleb Ormsbee to build this house in 1792 when the young United States was establishing itself. The property later became home to five generations of the Brown family, cementing its importance to the city over nearly two centuries.

The Brown University's center for public humanities uses this house as a venue for exhibitions and cultural programs today. The rooms tell stories of a family that collected art and learning across generations and shaped life in this city.

The house is open to visitors through guided tours that allow exploration of the architecture and interior rooms. Comfortable shoes are advisable since the property has multiple floors and expansive spaces to walk through.

This is one of the largest surviving wooden-frame structures from the 18th century in North America. The sheer size and construction of the house reveal the building skills of early American craftsmen.

Location: Rhode Island

Architects: Caleb Ormsbee

Architectural style: American colonial architecture

GPS coordinates: 41.82278,-71.40361

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:43