William Whalley Homestead

The William Whalley Homestead is a historic farmhouse in Little Compton with a one-and-a-half-story wood-frame structure featuring five bays in Federal style. The property includes a nineteenth-century barn with a gabled roof and a stone outbuilding that together form a complete rural homestead from that era.

The property was built between 1815 and 1830, reflecting how prosperous farmers lived in New England during the early United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, officially recognizing it as an important agricultural site from that period.

The stone walls and barn buildings show how farming families in Rhode Island built and organized their properties. These construction methods and materials reflect what was common in local agricultural communities.

The homestead sits on Burchard Avenue in Little Compton, in a quiet rural area of Newport County where farm roads and stone walls are typical. Visitors should plan to explore on foot and allow time to see all the buildings and the surrounding grounds.

The interior spaces of the main house preserve original details and elements from the early 1800s. These surviving features offer a window into how more prosperous farming families actually lived during that era.

Location: Rhode Island

Architectural style: Federal architecture

GPS coordinates: 41.54361,-71.16917

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:43