Providence Parks
Betsey Williams Cottage
About
In the red cottage beneath a sycamore tree in Roger Williams Park, Betsey Williams, the great-great-great granddaughter of Roger Williams, was born and raised with her sister Rhoda. The surrounding fields and marshes were their playground, and as adults their livelihood. It was in the cottage that the sisters wove cloth to supplement their income and also invited neighbors to dine and dance with them. Upon her death in 1871, Betsey bequeathed the cottage and 102 acres of surrounding farmland to the city of Providence, which became the foundation of Roger Williams Park. Today, the historic cottage remains an important connection to the Williams family and the origins of the park, shaded by the massive sycamore tree that has long stood beside it.
Open Houses
Free Open Houses at the Betsey Williams Cottage in Roger Williams Park
Fridays, 10am-3pm
Drop-in during these FREE open houses to learn about the Cottage’s history and its significance to Roger Williams Park. The open houses are FREE and open to the public. Presented by the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium. The Betsey Williams Cottage is located near Roger Williams Park’s Elmwood Avenue entrance. Parking is available on streets surrounding the Rose Garden; see a Roger Williams Park map.
Roger Williams Park
Providence Parks creates and maintains exceptional, accessible green spaces that serve as the foundation for wellbeing, quality of life, and environmental stewardship in Providence, Rhode Island.
Contact
Providence Parks Department
City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street
Providence, RI 02903
Superintendent: Wendy Nilsson
providenceri.gov/parks