Block Island Historical Society

Block Island Historical Society The Block Island Historical Society and The Museum Shop are both located at the 4-way intersection 18 Old Town Road. Visitors and members welcome.

Open daily during summer season. The Block Island Historical Society and Museum Shop are all located at the 4-way intersection in Old Harbor at 18 Old Town Road/Bridgegate Square across from the bank and Bagel Shop. The white three-story building with cupola and red mansard roof is the headquarters for the Historical Society. The building is listed as part of the National Register Old Harbor Historic District. The museum building originally known as the Woonsocket House ca. 1871,( a hotel & annex with rooms that were rented to summer visitors up until the 1970′s ) was purchased in 1945. It was the original homestead of Gideon Rose and later rebuilt as a boarding house by A.J. Rose and family. The museum houses an extensive collection of significant artifacts related to Block Island’s history from Manissean cultural belongings to early New England maritime and farming displays as well as textiles and memorabilia from the 19th & 20th century. Enlarged vintage photographs capture life during the Victorian heyday on the island. Two floors of exhibit rooms include fine furniture, Victorian collectibles, clothing, quilts, boat models, tools, fishing gear, historic maps, oral history tapes and other interesting displays. Genealogical research and off-site history tours are available by appointment year round. Thursday night outdoor slide shows are presented by the program committee during the summer months. See website for event schedule. We have refreshed our exhibits and the original Rebecca statue is located in the first floor exhibit room with highlights of recently accessioned items. Highlights in the museum include nautical charts and maps and handmade craft items, photographs and fine art. Slide shows depicting island scenes and historic photographs taken over 100 years ago are on view. Selected maps from the collection are available for purchase in the Museum Shop.Special educational history programs are available by appointment or to arrange group tours. For tours, genealogy research or to donate anything with Block Island related history, please contact: Staff at (401) 466-2481 or e-mail [email protected]. Volunteers are welcome to participate in the many projects and events during the year.

09/27/2026
Shore day plans? The Museum Shop is open today from 10am-2pm and stocked with the newly reprinted “Elizabeth Dickens, th...
09/26/2026

Shore day plans? The Museum Shop is open today from 10am-2pm and stocked with the newly reprinted “Elizabeth Dickens, the Bird Lady of Block Island,” recollections on Block Island’s original ornithologist by Herbert S. Whitman.

Tomorrow, ride out the storm with us at the Spring House, where the BIHS Annual Meeting will take place starting at 11:30am. Following updates from the Board, Kim Gaffett will present on the life and legacy of Elizabeth Dickens and copies of the book will be available for purchase on site. Refreshments will be served.

This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there! If you are unable to attend, the event will be live-streamed on the BIHS page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1M5MURmA6j

**Please note: the Museum and Museum Shop will be closed on Sunday, September 27 for the Annual Meeting.**

Please join us for the Block Island Historical Society 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place this Sunday, 9/27 at the Spring...
09/22/2026

Please join us for the Block Island Historical Society 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place this Sunday, 9/27 at the Spring House Hotel at 11:30am.

Following updates from the Board, Kim Gaffett will present on the life and legacy of Block Island's "Bird Lady," Elizabeth Dickens.

Copies of the newly reprinted book, "Elizabeth Dickens: Bird Lady of Block Island," by Herbert S. Whitman, will be available for purchase on site and at the BIHS Museum Shop. This reprint was made possible through generous funding from the Roosa Fund.

This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Photo descriptions:
Slide 1: Elizabeth Dickens holding a bird, circa 1950.
Slide 2: Elizabeth Dickens teaching ornithology to school children, circa 1950. Photo by Providence Journal.
Slide 3: Newspaper clipping, circa 1960. Publisher unknown.

Images courtesy of Block Island Historical Society Collection. All rights reserved.

The Block Island Historic Society building was formerly the Woonsocket House Hotel.We are open Fri -Mon 10-2Postcard fro...
09/17/2026

The Block Island Historic Society building was formerly the Woonsocket House Hotel.

We are open Fri -Mon 10-2

Postcard from the BI Historical Collection. All rights reserved

Block Island Tourism

This is an interesting project! Sheep back on BI !
09/12/2026

This is an interesting project! Sheep back on BI !

End of summer at the Great Salt Pond...circa 1950. Block Island Historical Society Collection, all rights reserved. Bloc...
09/12/2026

End of summer at the Great Salt Pond...circa 1950. Block Island Historical Society Collection, all rights reserved.

Block Island Tourism
Committee for the Great Salt Pond - CGSP Block Island

Hold the date! Sunday Sept 27 11:30 AM - short business meeting followed by Guest Speaker Kim Gaffett on Elizabeth Dicke...
09/12/2026

Hold the date! Sunday Sept 27 11:30 AM - short business meeting followed by Guest Speaker Kim Gaffett on Elizabeth Dickens: Bird Lady of Block Island. This event will be held at the Spring House Hotel

Reprint of Herbert S Whitman's Elizabeth Dickens: Bird Lady of Block Island generously funded by the Roosa Fund.

Block Island Tourism
Block Island Chamber of Commerce



National Audubon Society
Audubon Society of Rhode Island

Fall Season Hours at BI Historical SocietyMuseum and Shop OpenFri - Mon 10:00 am to 2:00 pmSept 8-Oct 12 Block Island T...
09/07/2026

Fall Season Hours at BI Historical Society
Museum and Shop Open
Fri - Mon 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Sept 8-Oct 12


Block Island Tourism

Happy Labor Day! Remembering all the workers who make Block Island sing during the summer season! Ocean View Hotel Sta...
09/06/2026

Happy Labor Day! Remembering all the workers who make Block Island sing during the summer season!

Ocean View Hotel Staff circa 1913. Block Island Historical Society Collection, all rights reserved.
Block Island Tourism
Block Island Chamber of Commerce

Address

18 Old Town Road
Block Island, RI
02807

Telephone

+14014662481

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