Gift Memberships for the Holidays
Delight your loved ones, students, friends or neighbors and share the passion for Rhode Island history with a gift that keeps on giving year round.  AND with each gift purchased, YOU will receive the Society’s popular note cards and envelopes featuring a beautiful drawing of the John Brown House.

The cost of an annual gift membership is only $45 and includes our two popular twice-yearly publications; News & Notes newsletter and our Rhode Island History publication.  Other Membership categories are also available.  Membership makes a wonderful gift, and helps the Society fulfill its mission of preserving history so you can enjoy it today. 

RIHS Library Holiday Hours
December 24 2008
through January 2, 2009

The Library will be closed for Winter Holidays from December 24, 2008 through January 2, 2009.

Regular hours resume on Wednesday, January 7, 2009.

History buffs, walkers, and talkers needed…
Tour Guide Training
Wednesdays, January 21 through February 25, 2009
10:00 am to 12:30 pm

The Rhode Island Historical Society is now recruiting energetic, inquisitive lovers of history to be volunteer museum guides and educators at its John Brown House Museum in Providence .  The Society is also recruiting guides for its SummerWalks historical walking tour program, which presents tours of Benefit Street, College Hill, and RiverWalk; formal training for SummerWalks will begin in March, but all interested individuals are welcome to attend John Brown House Museum training for an introduction to the Rhode Island Historical Society.

For questions about the subject matter and scope of the Institute, email or call Morgan Grefe or Joanne Melish. Morgan Grefe can be most easily reached by e-mail at mgrefe@rihs.org; her office phone number is 401-331-8575 ex. 53.  Joanne Melish’s email is jmelish@uky.edu, and her office phone number is 859-257-1014.  For questions about accommodations, costs, etc., please email Marie Parys at mparys@rihs.org or phone her at 401-331-8575 ex. 39. We look forward to hearing from you.

“Woonsocket Now and Again”
The Woonsocket based Riverzedge Arts Project has collaborated closely with the Museum of Work & Culture to develop this exhibit which compares and contrasts the city of Woonsocket “then and now.” The exhibit will feature paintings and digital photographs by Riverzedge students based on their research of the city’s history. The pieces will represent their interpretation of the city’s changes and raise questions about the direction the city is heading.

Free Admission for Bank of America Customers!
The Museum of Work & Culture, for the seventh consecutive year, has been selected to participate in the Bank of America Museums on US program. Visitors to the Museum will receive free admission every first weekend of the month for the rest of the year by simply presenting their Bank of America card. Additionally, participants will receive 10% off their purchases in the Museum Store.

The Treasury of Life is a unique and innovative exhibit at the Museum of Work & Culture where families will be remembered. Individuals and families have a chance to purchase a box, similar to a bank safe deposit box, where important memorabilia can be stored. A plaque bearing your family name will be placed on the box to be viewed by the thousands of visitors who tour the Museum each year. A key will be presented to your family at a special dedication ceremony.

Boxes are available in small, medium and large sizes for $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 respectively; an installment payment plan is available.

The Treasury of Life is presented by Navigant Credit Union.

John Brown House Museum

Hours through Saturday, December 20, 2008
Tuesday through Friday, 1:00 to 4:00,

Tours at 1:30 and 3:00
Saturdays, 10:00 to 4:00,

Tours at 10:30, 12:00, 1:30 and 3:00

When was the last time you visited the John Brown House Museum? If you haven't seen the house this spring, you're missing exciting changes and new displays! Come visit for a regularly scheduled tour or schedule a group or school tour by calling Dan Santos at (401) 273-7507 x60 or email dsantos@rihs.org.

Summer Hours run through Saturday December 20. The Museum will be closed for Winter Holidays December 23 through January 1, 2009, and reopens with Winter  Hours on Friday, January 2, 2009.