Rhode Island Historical Society

Museum program - the rihs operates two museums, the john brown house museum and the museum of work and culture, as well as operating the aldrich house, which serves as its headquarters, event venue, and educational space. The museum of work and culture also serves as a visitors' center for the blackstone river valley. In addition, the john brown house museum serves as the primary location of our museum artifacts, which number over 20,000. In 2022, a gallery space in the jbh was dedicated to annual displays related to the "road to revolution," culminating in 2026 (the 250th of the declaration of independence). The first display was on the burning of the british customs ship gaspee, and in may 2023 the history of sugar as a commodity that engaged rhode island in the 18thc global economy, including the sugar and molasses acts, was installed.

Education program - the goff center for education and public programs, the staff members of which are located at the john brown house museum and aldrich house, oversees the rihs's educational work related to ri and american history, teacher professional development in the field of ri and american history, primary document-based curriculum development, unit plans, student tours, and written materials, including the freely available digital textbook, encompass, as well as public programs, such as lectures, concerts, and workshops. The goff center directs the rihs's rhode island online directory initiative (rhodi) project and also runs ri history day, the state affiliate of national history day. The public programs and rhodi staff report to the director of advancement and public programs but are considered part of the goff center. During fy 2024, the museum team focused its attention on the development, installation, and promotion of a new immersive and interactive presentation, and on its changing exhibit program. The new immersive presentation was added to our existing farmhouse exhibit, bringing to life a family of the early 20th century faced with the decision to leave their country to move to the united states.during the course of the fiscal year, the museum also presented six changing exhibits in its gallery. Mishpakha (opened may 2023) continued to bring visitors from near and far to discover the jewish history of woonsocket and to attend related programs. Other changing exhibits showcased the artwork of local artists and students from the northern ri art group and the beacon charter art school; a photography exhibit from precision medicine in autism during autism awareness month; hollywood comes to woonsocket during francophonie month; and the 100th anniversary of mont st-charles academy. Several programs related to each changing exhibit were presented and well attended.