Prospect Terrace

Enjoy this hilltop park featuring awe-inspiring views of the Providence, Rhode Island, skyline.

The Prospect Terrace Park was built in the late 1930s when Roger Williams' descendant, Stephen Randall, made a deed of gift for the monument. Roger Williams was a Puritan minister, theologian, author, and founder of Providence Plantations. Roger Williams was a staunch advocate for religious freedom, separation of church and state, and fair dealings with Native Americans. Roger Williams University is a private university in Bristol, Rhode Island, founded in 1956 and named after the same Roger Williams depicted in the statue at Prospect Terrace Park.

This park is referred to as "The Jewel of the City" due to its elevated view of downtown Providence. The granite statue is about 15 feet tall and is an artist's interpretation of what Roger Williams looked like. Prospect Terrace has the best vantage point to view the city in all its splendor, and you can visit it day or night since it is open 24 hours a day. The roots of an apple tree had grown over Williams's original grave; later, his remains were moved into a tomb directly beneath the statue. The tree roots are now on display at the John Brown House Museum in Providence. If you love sightseeing, head to this park the next time you're visiting Rhode Island.