1894 Map of Providence

About this map

The Blackstone River and Providence River drive the industrial character of this late nineteenth-century urban landscape. The dense concentration of mills and manufacturing works, such as the Sayles Bleachery and Conant Thread Co. in Pawtucket, highlights the region's historical role as a textile powerhouse. Rail networks like the Providence and Worcester R. R. and the Boston and Providence R. R. thread through the river valleys, connecting burgeoning neighborhoods from Central Falls down to the core of Providence. Outside the urban center, landmarks like Neutaconkanut Hill and Copper Mine Hill rise above the surrounding terrain, while the coast features curious names like Starve Goat Island and Pomham Rock. This survey provides a look at the infrastructure of the Gilded Age, from the Butler Hospital grounds to the developing Roger Williams Park, as the city expanded its footprint across the Moshassuck River and Woonasquatucket River valleys.