Lippitt House Museum

10/14/2026

You’re invited! Thursday, October 15, from 5-8pm. Exhibit Reception for “House Work” by Department of Furniture Design Rhode Island School of Design
Refreshments served, free & open to the public

10/07/2026

House Work is up Wednesdays - Saturdays, 12pm-5pm from 10/7 - 10/24.

Exhibit Reception on 10/15.
Link in bio for more info.
Rhode Island School of Design Department of Furniture Design

10/03/2026

Historic house; brand new creations!
This month, in partnership with Rhode Island School of Design, Lippitt House Museum is excited to present “House Work | Objects, Occupants and Conditions at Lippitt House Museum,” featuring new work by RISD MFA Furniture Design students on display throughout the Victorian mansion.

Students drew on Lippitt House's history and its furnishings to explore the forces that shaped 19th-century New England, and to create new domestic objects.
Come see them side by side with the elements of the house that inspired them...
you have plenty of opportunities!

For more info and to register to attend: https://www.preserveri.org/art-exhibition

Open House:
October 7–24
Wednesdays–Saturdays, 12–5 PM

Exhibit Reception: October 15, 5–8 PM
Reception is free; advance registration requested.
Exhibit admission is pay what you wish.

09/09/2026

If you haven’t voted yet, this is your reminder!
Did you know?...

Rhode Island extended voting rights to Black men in 1842 (or at least those who met strict requirements), a whole 28 years before the 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870!

The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, giving certain women the constitutional right to vote nationwide later that year - a full 52 years after Rhode Island women formed their first suffrage organization.

In 1951, Rhode Island ended its poll tax 13 years before the federal Voting Rights Act eliminated poll taxes nationwide in 1964.

For generations, Rhode Islanders have fought over whose voices are heard. Today, that voice is yours. Don’t miss your chance to make your voice heard!
Polls close at 8 PM.

09/04/2026

Can you sit down on the job? Can you offer your boss an opinion? Can you say “good morning” to your boss unprompted? If so, you’re already doing much better than a Victorian servant!

According to the hugely influential 1861 Mrs Beetons Book of Household Management: “A servant is not to be seated, or wear a hat in the house, in his master's or mistress's presence; nor offer any opinion, unless asked for it; nor even to say ‘good night,’ or ‘good morning,’ except in reply to that salutation.”

This Labor Day, let’s honor all the servants and laborers that made the running and upkeep of beautiful Victorian homes like Lippitt House possible. If you’d like to learn more about specific servants and their duties at Lippitt House, stop by for one of our guided tours!

📸: This 19th century photo shows students at the Uppsala Housekeeping School in Sweden. European immigrants were often employed as servants in Golden Age Mansions in the United States.
Photograph by Heritage Image Partnership Ltd, Alamy Stock Photo

09/04/2026

Can you sit down on the job? Can you offer your boss an opinion? Can you say “good morning” to your boss unprompted? If so, you’re already doing much better than a Victorian servant!

According to the hugely influential 1861 Mrs Beetons Book of Household Management: “A servant is not to be seated, or wear a hat in the house, in his master’s or mistress’s presence; nor offer any opinion, unless asked for it; nor even to say ‘good night,’ or ‘good morning,’ except in reply to that salutation.”

This Labor Day, let’s honor all the servants and laborers that made the running and upkeep of beautiful Victorian homes like Lippitt House possible. If you’d like to learn more about specific servants and their duties at Lippitt House, stop by for one of our guided tours!

🎟️: Ticket link in bio

📸: This 19th century photo shows students at the Uppsala Housekeeping School in Sweden. European immigrants were often employed as servants in Golden Age Mansions in the United States.

Photograph by Heritage Image Partnership Ltd, Alamy Stock Photo

08/31/2026

Lippitt House Museum is proud to have been included in this year's Ranger Walkabouts series. What the National Park Service contributes to our country cannot be overstated; as historians, naturalists, and community builders for us all, Park Rangers are a treasure! Thank you for telling the story of Lippitt House, one of industry, innovation and immigration in our state, so beautifully.

On Thursday, August 27th, we wrapped up another season of ranger-led walkabouts. Traveling around the Blackstone Valley, we traversed canal towpaths, city streets, and more than a dozen industrial communities in between.

These walks would not be possible without our extraordinary partners. This year, we extend a special thanks to: OpenSky Community Services, Northbridge Historical Society, First Unitarian Church of Providence, Peter Laarman, MA DCR, Sherine Hamade, Roger Williams National Memorial, Preserve Rhode Island, Cathy Saunders, Jane Bird, North Burial Ground, Thomas Lesichner, Jim Higgins, Linda Gay, Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, and Laura Auketayeva, Ph.D.

A final thank you to everyone who attended these walks. See you next year.

Photo courtesy of Jim Hendrickson.

08/26/2026

An important part of the Lippitt family's legacy is, and always has been, embracing civic duty. In that respect, sharing the brand new "Lil Rhody Voter Guide" is just in keeping with their vision and practice.

Primary Election Day is September 9th; preparation is essential!
Take a minute to review this excellent guide and learn more about the individuals running for office in our small but mighty state:

Creating the conditions for courage

08/15/2026

Miasma theory has long been debunked, but the Victorians may have been onto something when it came to fresh air!

In the 1800s, many believed that bad smells and stagnant air caused disease, making cross ventilation a medical necessity. This belief helped shape the way Victorians designed their homes, with an emphasis on fresh air that also offered ways to stay cool during the summer. Grand homes like Lippitt House were built with thick walls, high ceilings, large sash windows, and shutters to keep out the sun while allowing fresh air to flow.

So how well did this work? Come see for yourself! Lippitt House Museum is open for tours this Saturday, Fridays, and the 4th Wednesday evening of every month.

07/10/2026

Lippitt House Museum is overwhelming proud of the Student Body Government of Rhode Island School for the Deaf for taking the initiative to rename their school's street! They chose "Jeanie Lippitt Circle", after the young woman and student who inspired the founding of the school. This year marks 150 years since that founding, and 150 years of a beautiful legacy: Rhode Island School for the Deaf is an extraordinary institution, and an enormous asset to our community!
To learn more about Jeanie and her accomplishments, consider a visit to Lippitt House Museum, but mostly, please join us in applauding the students who made this beautiful change happen!

Hello RISD community,

On behalf of our Student Body Government (SBG), I'm proud to share that the Providence City Council unanimously approved the resolution to rename Corliss Park as Jeanie Lippett Circle in honor of Jeanie Lippett's lasting contributions to the Deaf community.

The resolution now moves to the Mayor's Office on Wednesday, July 8, to be signed into law.

SBG was established during the 2024–2025 school year, and in just two years, our student leaders have already made a meaningful impact through leadership, advocacy, and community engagement.

Congratulations to our SBG officers on this outstanding achievement! Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting and supported this effort. Your voices made a difference.

Rhode Island School for the Deaf
Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic AssociationRhode Island School for the Deaf Alumni Association