John Brown House

The John Brown House is the first mansion built in Providence, Rhode Island. It is located at 52 Power Street on College Hill, and borders the campus of Brown University. The house is named after the original owner and one of the early benefactors of the University, the early American merchant, statesman and slave trader, John Brown. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1968.John Quincy Adams considered the house "the most magnificent and elegant private mansion that I have ever seen on this continent."HistoryThe building was designed by John Brown's brother Joseph, an amateur architect, who had also designed the First Baptist Church in America. The house took two years to build, 1786-88.Notable guests during this time include George Washington, who is reported to have visited for tea.The house was sold in 1901 to the prominent Rhode Island industrialist and banker Marsden J. Perry. Under Marsden's supervision, the extension was renovated to add in modern bathrooms and central heating systems. It was purchased by John Nicholas Brown in 1936.In 1942, the Brown family donated the house to the Rhode Island Historical Society for preservation. The house was restored to its original colonial decor. The museum now contains many original furniture pieces provided by the Brown family estate.