The two-term Rhode Island governor made his fortune selling textiles to both armies during the Civil War, and he spared no expense in building his home, an immaculate Renaissance Revival mansion, in 1863. The floor of the billiard room uses nine types of inlaid wood; the ceilings are intricately hand-painted (some look convincingly like tiger maple), and the neoclassical chandeliers are cast in bronze. The home was fitted with central heating and electricity, quite an extravagance at the time.
Reviewed by bachslunch from US on 5/13/09
This is a first-rate old Victorian era historic house, strikingly lavish in architectural detail with a lot of original furnishings. Very much worth a visit, and the tour is informative. Note that it costs $10 with no further discounts for a tour, and the house is only open on Fridays from 11 AM to 3 PM from May through October.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip