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In the 18^th century when Providence was an important way point on the lucrative transatlantic trade routes, many of the city's most prominent citizens built their homes along Benefit Street on the east bank of the Providence River. Today the area harbors an unparalleled collection of remarkably well-preserved residential architecture from the colonial and early Federal periods, making a stroll along what has been the "Mile of History" like a trip back in time.

Virtually all of the homes are private residences, and few historic buildings in the area are open to the public unless you happen to be in town for the annual Festival of Historic Houses. One notable exception is the John Brown House at 52 Power St. (www.rihs.org/museums), a three-story Georgian mansion completed in 1788 and now maintained as a historical museum. Also open to the public is the Providence Athenaeum (www.providenceathenaeum.org), a member-supported library founded in 1753 and housed in an early 19^th-century Greek revival edifice at 251 Benefit St. For more information about the district and the Festival of Historic Houses, contact the Provide Preservation Society at 21 Meeting St. (401-831-7440, www.ppsri.org)

Benefit Street extends in a roughly north-south direction, with the campus of Brown University at its midpoint. After exploring the area on foot, head for Wickenden Street near the southern end of Benefit for a snack or a cup of coffee in one of the cool cafes in this lively student-oriented commercial district.