Sunday, August 16, 2026
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Things to Do Next Week in Providence

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE: Life at Fort Adams Tour
The John Brown House Museum

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE: Life at Fort Adams Tour

Tuesday, August 18 @ 11:30 AM

Join the Rhode Island Historical Society on Tuesday, August 18th, at 11:30am for “Life at the Fort,” a member-exclusive tour of Fort Adams in Newport. Fort Adams, which is more than granite walls and artillery placements — it is a place shaped by people. On this immersive tour, you’ll discover the human stories behind the stone: the engineers who designed its defenses, the laborers who constructed its massive walls, and the soldiers who stood watch over Newport Harbor. Life at the Fort meant more than military drills. It meant routines, responsibilities, and relationships. You’ll learn what daily life looked like inside a 19th-century coastal fort — from living quarters and rations to discipline and downtime. This tour also highlights the often-overlooked contributions of workers and families connected to the Fort. Behind every cannon and casemate were individuals whose labor and service sustained the operation of this strategic stronghold. Set against sweeping harbor views and historic architecture, Life at the Fort offers a deeply personal perspective on one of Rhode Island’s most significant landmarks.

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Goff Lecture: Culture of, by, and for the People: Rhode Island Festivals & Folklife
The John Brown House Museum
Aldrich House

Goff Lecture: Culture of, by, and for the People: Rhode Island Festivals & Folklife

Thursday, August 20 @ 6:00 PM

The Rhode Island Historical Society will host its second Goff Lecture of 2026, Culture of, by, and for the People: Rhode Island Festivals & Folklife, on Thursday, August 20th at 6pm. The panel will feature a discussion between representatives from Rhode Island organizations Providence Arts, Culture, and Tourism (ACT), Pawtucket Arts Festival, SoupyFest, Newport Festivals Foundation, and more, and will be moderated by Halle Butvin, Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Guests will enjoy a light reception prior to the talk. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., with the talk starting at 6 p.m. This talk is the first of two Goff Lectures that will be presented in collaboration with Smithsonian Affiliations in 2026. Both presentations will explore a different aspect of the RIHS’s year-long commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. Halle Butvin is Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, where she leads the Center’s communications, media relations, digital storytelling, and strategic initiatives. She oversees national outreach and content production that connects audiences with the Center’s work, amplifying the stories of communities, artists, and tradition bearers through public programming and multimedia platforms. Over the past two decades, Halle has developed and managed complex cultural heritage and cultural exchange initiatives across the United States and internationally, building cross-sector partnerships and leading projects that strengthen communities through arts, culture, and public engagement. She is passionate about the role festivals play in sustaining living traditions, fostering dialogue, and bringing people together. Guests can register for free here.

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