375Events

If Providence's rivers could talk, they'd recall with a wry smile the time an irrepressible preacher from Massachusetts stumbled upon their shores in the middle of winter, 375 years ago.

Roger Williams, brilliant theologian and persistent (if persnickety) philosopher, earned quite the reputation throughout the Massachusetts colonies. In 1636, Williams found himself facing deportation (or worse) for urging the separation of church and state. Amazingly, Williams chose instead to stalk out into a dark New England winter and a harsh, unknowable future. He praised God's "divine providence" for his safe arrival and the name stuck.

Today, Providence is teeming with creativity, energy, and lively experiments, all refracted brilliantly through the prism of Williams' original, forward-thinking vision. This summer and fall, we will be celebrating 375 years of freedom, hope, roots and ingenuity with a full slate of fabulous events. We think he'd be proud.