coming up at the BH&PS
SLIDESHOW: TAKE A WALK THROUGH COLT STATE PARK
SLIDESHOW: TAKE A WALK THROUGH COLT STATE PARK
SLIDESHOW: TAKE A WALK THROUGH COLT STATE PARK
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
@ 6 - 7:30 PM
Samuel Pomeroy Colt loved to collect art, cars, and women. He knew how to make money, too. From scandal to success, Colt's Gilded Age-era life was filled with fascinating twists and turns.
In this in-person, slideshow presentation, we'll "walk" around Colt's gentleman's farm, now known as Colt State Park,
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
@ 6 - 7:30 PM
Samuel Pomeroy Colt loved to collect art, cars, and women. He knew how to make money, too. From scandal to success, Colt's Gilded Age-era life was filled with fascinating twists and turns.
In this in-person, slideshow presentation, we'll "walk" around Colt's gentleman's farm, now known as Colt State Park, making additional "stops" at Linden Place, Colt's mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York, and his fishing camp in Kidney Pond in Maine. Along the way, we'll watch Colt's US Rubber Company on Wood Street in Bristol grow to play a prominent role in World War II.
Presented by Lynn Smith, Volunteer Tour Guide at Linden Place and BH&PS Board Member.
ROGERS FREE LIBRARY, HERRESHOFF ROOM
525 Hope Street, Bristol
Free and open to the public. Advance registration needed. You can do that HERE.
WINTER HISTORY BOOK CLUB
SLIDESHOW: TAKE A WALK THROUGH COLT STATE PARK
SLIDESHOW: TAKE A WALK THROUGH COLT STATE PARK
Join the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society and the Rogers Free Library to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the King Philip War with a three session History Book Club.
The Book Club will meet at the Rogers Free Library, 525 Hope Street, Bristol, on the first Saturdays in February, March, and April at the Rogers Free Library at
Join the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society and the Rogers Free Library to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the King Philip War with a three session History Book Club.
The Book Club will meet at the Rogers Free Library, 525 Hope Street, Bristol, on the first Saturdays in February, March, and April at the Rogers Free Library at 1 p.m.
The first book for discussion is on February 1:
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick.
The second book for discussion is on March 1:
Diary of King Philip’s War, 1675-1676 by Benjamin Church.
The third and final book for discussion is on April 5:
The Name of War by Jill Lepore.
Copies of the books will be available for checkout at the Rogers Free Library circulation desk a month in advance of the discussion date.
Free and open to the public.
OUR 2025 EXHIBIT WILL BE COMING SOON
SLIDESHOW: TAKE A WALK THROUGH COLT STATE PARK
OUR 2025 EXHIBIT WILL BE COMING SOON
COLLECTORS OF CURIOSITIES:
THE HISTORY OF THE WUNDERKAMMER
What do 200 year old Fijian war clubs, etched glass cups from the World’s Fair of 1893, 19th century wooden water pipes from Bristol, and a collection of sand from beaches all over the world have in common?
They are all in the BH&PS collections!
A Wunderkammer, or "cabinet of curios
COLLECTORS OF CURIOSITIES:
THE HISTORY OF THE WUNDERKAMMER
What do 200 year old Fijian war clubs, etched glass cups from the World’s Fair of 1893, 19th century wooden water pipes from Bristol, and a collection of sand from beaches all over the world have in common?
They are all in the BH&PS collections!
A Wunderkammer, or "cabinet of curiosities," was a collection of unusual, rare, and sometimes bizarre objects typically amassed by wealthy individuals or scholars during the 16th to 18th centuries.
In the spirit of the Wunderkammer, the BH&PS is bringing out some of our most interesting and diverse curiosities for our 2025 exhibit.
Check back here or on the Exhibit Page for dates of our opening and special events surrounding this exhibit. The exhibit will open as soon as the repairs to our exhibit room floor are complete.
Image: "The Curiosity Seller"
by Cornelious de Mann (1621-1706)
the bh&ps will be closed for most of january and february
We need a new floor!!!
While we were thrilled to host so many successful events throughout 2024, we have a new challenge on the horizon. We need to replace our floor in the main meeting/exhibit room which includes installing new structural supports and removing a layer of asbestos discovered under our carpet. This obviously will force us to close while the work is being done during January and February.
Your donations right now will go a long way to helping us over this hump. Please know that your contribution matters deeply to us. Thank you so much for your support! To make a donation, please visit our DONATION PAGE. Thank you!!
Please check back for our reopening AND a new and exciting exhibit.
WALKING TOURS 2025
The 2024 Walking Tour Season is sadly over.
Check back in the spring for our 2025 WALKING TOURS when we will have lots of new tours as well as the return of old favorites with new routes and directions.
Check out our CALENDAR for dates and details.
The Society has self-guided downtown walking tour maps, too. Pick up one at the Society during open hours or CLICK HERE to print one out.
THE BH&PS WINS PRESTIGIOUS HISTORY AWARD
The Timeline of Enslavement in Bristol, Rhode Island
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) congratulates the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society, of Bristol, RI, for receiving an Award of Excellence for The Timeline of Enslavement in Bristol, RI. The Award of Excellence is part of the AASLH Leadership in History Awards, the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation of state and local history. It is the first time in more than four years that a RI project has been honored.
The Timeline of Enslavement in Bristol, RI is a 56 foot-long strip of fabric that lists in chronological order the names of those who were enslaved in Bristol, Rhode Island, between 1680 and 1808. All those identified occupy their own space on the timeline, regardless of how much or little is known about them. The approximately 600 entries represent approximately 475 enslaved individuals in total.
