PROVIDENCE

John Brown House, 52 Power St. 273-7507; www.rihs.org. Hear the stories of Rhode Island’s history as told through the lives of the inhabitants of this “most magnificent mansion,” built in 1788. Guided tours Tue-Fri 1:30, 3 pm; Sat 10:30 am, noon, 1:30 and 3 pm; museum open Tue-Fri 1-4 pm, Sat 10 am-4 pm. $8, 62+/students $6, children 7-17 $4.

John Nicholas Brown Center (JNBC), Carriage House Gallery, 357 Benefit St., Providence. 863-2896. Mon-Fri 2-5 pm. Free.

John Nicholas Brown Center, 47 Power St., Providence.

John Carter Brown Library, MacMillan Reading Room, Brown University’s College Green, George and Brown Streets. 863-2725; www.jcbl.org. Mon-Fri 8:30 am-5 pm, Sat 9 am-noon. Free.

First Baptist Church in America, 75 North Main St. 454-3418. The oldest Baptist church in America was established by Roger Williams in 1638. Mon-Fri 10 am-noon and 1-3 pm, Sat 10 am-1 pm; guided ($2) and self-guided ($1) tours. Guided tours every Sun immediately after the worship service, 10 am. Groups by appointment only; ample parking and child care on Sun.

Governor Stephen Hopkins House, 15 Hopkins St. 421-0694; www.stephenhopkins.org. Built in 1707, home of former Rhode Island governor. Guided tours Sat-Sun 1-4 pm, or by appointment. Donations.

Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St. 455-8000. Images of “The Great War,” (World War I), mounted presentation of photos and graphic artwork from the library’s circulating and special collections that relate to the era in which the “Old World” died and the age of modernity was born. Pictures, posters, sheet music and cartoons of the era are included. Mon, Thu 12 noon-8 pm; Tue-Wed 10 am-6 pm; Fri-Sat 9 am-5:30 pm; Sun 1-5 pm.

Rhode Island Historical Society’s Aldrich House, 110 Benevolent St. 331-8575; www.rihs.org. Prepared to Do My Whole Duty, exhibit explores the life of Elisha Hunt Rhodes during and after the Civil War and features excerpts from Rhodes’ diaries and letters detailing his personal experiences, as well as objects illustrating his life of service during and after the war. Mon-Fri 10 am-4 pm.

Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith St. 222-2357. World’s fourth-largest self-supported marble dome. Contains the original Rhode Island Charter of 1663, historic portrait of George Washington by Rhode Island native Gilbert Stuart, battle flags and other state treasures. Self-guided tours Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm; guided tours Mon-Fri 9 am-noon (must be booked at least a week in advance). Free.

Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 North Main St. 521-7266; www.nps.gov/rowi. A 4½-acre park on the site of the original Providence settlement. Exhibits, information, group programs by request. Daily 9 am-4:30 pm. Free.

BLACKSTONE VALLEY

Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket. 725-8638; www.slatermill.org. Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America. Tue-Sat 11 am-3 pm. $9, 65+ $8, ages 6-12 $7, younger children free.

EAST BAY

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum, 101 Ferry Rd., Route 114, Bristol. 253-2707; www.blithewold.org. 45-room mansion overlooking 33 acres of landscaped grounds, with gardens, bamboo grove and a 90-foot giant sequoia; views of Narragansett Bay from paths and 10-acre lawn. Mansion open for self-guided tours Wed-Sat 10 am-4pm, Sun 10 am-3 pm; grounds Mon-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm. $10, seniors/fulltime students $8, free for visitors 16 and younger accompanied by an adult. Special exhibit: A New Century; exhibit in the Billiard Room follows the step-by-step progress of the design and construction of the Blithewold Mansion in 1908 and includes highlights of events that took place that year as well as a month-by-month account of the family’s activities, photographs of the house under construction and architectural plans.

Linden Place, 500 Hope St., Bristol. 253-0390. 1810 Federal-style mansion, home of the DeWolf/Colt family; featured in the film The Great Gatsby with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. Guided tours Thu-Sat 10 am-4 pm, Sun and selected holidays noon-4 pm. $6, seniors $5, children 11 and younger $4, children 5 and younger/members free.

Tiverton Town Hall, 343 Highland Rd., Tiverton. 625-6710. Home and Away, an exhibition of photographs by Harry Glaser. Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm.

NEWPORT

Astors’ Beechwood, 580 Bellevue Ave. 846-3772; www.astorsbeechwood.com. Visitors are transported back to 1891 as guests of Mrs. Astor, queen of American society. Actors portray aristocrats and domestic staff, who escort guests through the house. Visitors can also hear some of the music of the period performed by the Astor daughters or Nellie Melba, or even stumble upon Cole Porter working on a new song. Victorian Servants Tours Thu 10 am-2 pm; Fri-Sat 10 am-3:30 pm; Sun, Wed 10 am-4 pm. $20, youth 6-17 $8; family (two adults, two-four children) $50; children 5 and younger free. Reservations encouraged. Special program: Murder at the Mansion, Thu 7 pm; Sat 1:30 pm. Interactive murder mystery set in Newport’s past.

Belcourt Castle, 657 Bellevue Ave. 849-1566 days, 846-0669 evenings; www.belcourtcastle.com. Built in 1894 for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, Belcourt Castle is the only Newport Mansion where the owners still live in residence and open their home for the public to enjoy a Richard Morris Hunt masterpiece. Guided Tours Thu-Fri, Sun-Wed 10 am-4 pm. Ghost Tours Thu 5 pm, Sat 5 pm. Candlelight Tours Fri, Sun-Mon 6 pm. Evening tours not for children 7 and younger.

Green Animals Topiary Garden, 380 Cory’s Lane (off Route 114), Portsmouth. 847-1000. 80 pieces of topiary, including geometric figures, ornamental designs, 21 animals, birds; fruit and vegetable gardens, plant shop, picnic tables. Victorian toy museum in main residence. Self-guided garden tours daily 10 am-5 pm. $11, children 6-17 $4.

Historic Fort Adams, Harrison Avenue. 841-0707; www.fortadams.org. Explore the engineered tunnel system and climb the bastions for sweeping views of Narragansett Bay at the largest coastal fortification in the United States. Guided tours on the hour daily from 10 am-4 pm. $10, children 6-17 $5, children 5 and younger free, family rate (2 adults and up to 4 children) $25.

Newport Mansions. 847-1000; www.newportmansions.org. Daily 10 am-5 pm; last tour admission at 5 pm, grounds close 6 pm; Breakers opens at 9 am. Admission: five properties (except Hunter House) $31, youth (6-17) $10; The Breakers plus one other property (except Hunter House) $23, youth (6-17) $6. The Breakers $16, youth (6-17), $4 younger kids; single properties $11, youth (6-17) $4; Hunter House $25, youth $4.

•The Breakers, 44 Ochre Point Ave. The Breakers Stable and Carriage House open for the season.

•Chateau-sur-Mer, 474 Bellevue Ave.

•The Elms, Bellevue Avenue. Rooftop and Behind-the-Scenes Tour, daily on the hour, 10 am-4 pm. Reservations suggested; 847-0478. Lunch and snacks available at The Elms Carriage House Cafe(available to ticket holders), Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm.

•Isaac Bell House, Bellevue Avenue.

•Chepstow, Narragansett Avenue.

•Hunter House, Washington Street.

•Kingscote, 253 Bellevue Ave.

•Marble House, Bellevue Avenue.

•Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Ave. Special exhibit: Design Trends in Sophisticated Clothes — Couture Ensembles by Pierre Cardin, 1964-2002. Admission to exhibit included with any Rosecliff tour ticket. Closed Thu.

Portsmouth Historical Society, East Main Road (Route 138) and Union Street, Portsmouth. Artifacts and documents rich in Portsmouth and Rhode Island history on first floor. Second floor, the former Christian Union Church, restored and open for viewing. The Southermost Schoolhouse, the oldest standing schoolhouse in Rhode Island, on society grounds and open for viewing. Sun 2-4 pm. Free.

Redwood Library & Athenaeum, 50 Bellevue Ave. 847-0292; www.redwoodlibrary.org. America’s oldest lending library features antique furnishings and an art gallery with several works by Gilbert Stuart. Mon, Fri, Sat 9:30 am-5:30 pm; Tue-Thu 9:30 am-8 pm; Sun 1-5 pm. Tours weekdays, 10:30 am.

Rough Point, 680 Bellevue Ave. Home of Doris Duke, featuring an art collection of works by Renoir, Van Dyck and Gainsborough. 847-8344; www.newportrestoration.org. Special exhibit: Zoo in the House: Animals in the Doris Duke Art Collection (through Nov. 8). Tue-Sat 9:45 am-3:45 pm. $25, children 12 and younger free.

Touro Synagogue, 85 Touro St. 847-4794; www.tourosynagogue.org. America’s oldest synagogue and a National Historic Site. Sun-Fri 10 am-5 pm; tours begin every half hour; last tour 4:30 pm. $5, 12 and younger free.

SOUTH COUNTY

Casey Farm, 2325 Boston Neck Rd. (Route 1A), Saunderstown. 295-1030; www.historicnewengland.org. 18th-century homestead overlooking Narragansett Bay. Sat 11 am-5 pm. $4; $3 seniors, $2 children.

Kenyon’s Grist Mill, off Route 138, Richmond-South Kingstown line. 783-4054; (800) 753-6966; kenyonsgristmill.com. 1886 operating historical grist mill. Tours by appointment or by chance.

Old Washington County Jail (Pettaquamscutt Historical Society), 2636 Kingstown Rd. (Route 138), Kingston. 783-1328. Period jail cells and schoolroom; exhibit of artifacts, including women’s hats and fans, toys, textiles and furniture from South County villages. Genealogy and local history research library. Mural by Ernest Hamlin Baker, The Economic Activities of the Narragansett. Tue, Thu, Sat 1-4 pm. $3 donation ages 12 and older.

Seabee Museum and Memorial Park, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown. 294-7223; www.seabeesmuseum.com. Historical displays, military equipment, six vintage Quonset huts and a poured-concrete chapel built by the Seabees. Mon-Fri 10 am-3 pm; by appointment. Grounds open dawn-dusk. Donations.

Smith’s Castle, 55 Richard Smith Drive (off Route 1), North Kingstown. 294-3521; www.smithscastle.org. One of America’s oldest plantation houses (1678). Guided tours by costumed docents. Tours Thu-Sun noon, 1, 2 and 3 pm. Large group tours and special reservations welcome by appointment. $5; $1 children 6-12; members free. Grounds free every day.

Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum, 815 Gilbert Stuart Rd., Saunderstown. 294-3001. Birthplace of the foremost painter of George Washington. Colonial working-man’s home with working grist and snuff mills. Thu-Sun 11 am-4 pm, with last tour at 3 pm. $6; children 6-12 $3; members free.

Watson Farm, 455 North Rd., Jamestown. 423-0005; www.historicnewengland.org. Historical 265-acre working farm reflecting New England life since the 17th century. The farmhouse is part of a working farm and is not open to the public. Tue, Thu, Sun 1-5 pm. $4, seniors $3, students $2, children 6 and younger/SPNEA members/Jamestown residents free.

MASSACHUSETTS

Battleship Cove, Exit 5 off Route 195 East, Fall River. (508) 678-1100; www.battleshipcove.org. World’s largest collection of historic naval ships. Five National Historic Landmarks. Massachusetts’ official veterans memorial for WWII and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf wars. Daily 9 am-5 pm. $14, 63+/AAA $12, children 6-14 $8, children 6 and younger free. Free parking.