Governor Henry Lippitt House

The Governor Henry Lippitt House is a historic house museum at 199 Hope Street on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island. A National Historic Landmark, it is one of the finest Italianate mansion houses in the state, and considered one of the best-preserved examples of Victorian-era houses in the US. It is notable for its association with Henry Lippitt (1818–91), a wealthy textile magnate who was the 33rd Governor of Rhode Island. The house is owned by Preserve Rhode Island, and is open to the public for tours seasonally or by appointment.DescriptionThe Lippitt House is a large three-story brick structure, resting on a brownstone foundation, and topped by a roof that is hipped except for a projecting gable at the front elevation. A two-story wing projects to the rear of the house. The corners of the building are quoined in brownstone, and there are brownstone belt courses between the first and second floors. The main entry is sheltered by a semicircular porch supported by fluted and cabled Corinthian columns. The porch has an elaborately decorated roof line, as does the main roof and the porte cochere on the north side.The interior is in a remarkable state of preservation. The public rooms in particular exhibit a wide variety of materials and are richly decorated with wallpaper, woodwork, plasterwork, and stenciling. Original gas lighting fixtures are still present, but have been converted to electricity. Stained glass windows adorn the stair landings.