A Place for Your Ideas

With a sense of God's merciful providence unto me in my distress, I named the place Providence. I desired that it would be a shelter for persons distressed of conscience.

—Roger Williams

 

The approved landscape concept

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Many visitors ask us, "Where's the Memorial?" That's a great question, since many National Memorials have statues, towers, or giant sculptures.

Roger Williams National Memorial was designed as a place for people to gather. Two ampitheaters were constructed into the landscape that can host thousands of people, and a platform was built for speakers to use. Trees were strategically planted to shelter the ampitheaters from the noise of Main and Canal Streets. In short, the National Memorial was designed to honor the legacy of freedoms that were first practiced here in Rhode Island, such as the freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, and freedom to petition the government.

Roger Williams never had his portrait taken. He didn't think that the way he looked was nearly as important as the words he used, people he protected, and beliefs he held. To honor that personal value, the National Park Service created a place without a statue of him. Instead, we designed an area for people to gather, share their ideas, or sit quitely and reflect on Roger Williams's life.

National Memorials have served as iconic places of quiet reflection as well as public expression. They are among the most sacred spots in America.

How will you use this place when you visit?

To learn more about permits for special events, visit our Permits page.

 

A scale model of the National Memorial

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