The next three landmarks you will see are part of an important district in Providence. Get ready to explore the Customhouse Historic District. There are 8 compactly grouped late 19th century and early 20th century office buildings along Weybosset and Custom House Streets in downtown Providence. They form the nucleus of the Customhouse Historic District. Due to the irregular street pattern of the area, the arrangement of the buildings is exciting. You’re going to see the 3 most impressive buildings of the 8 Customhouse Historic District buildings today! Let’s get started right now.
You are standing at 130 Westminster Street. This is The Westminster Arcade. It was actually the first indoor shopping mall in the United States. Can you believe that? This is a historic shopping center. “The Arcade Providence,” or simply, “The Arcade,” as many refer to it, is a fine example of commercial Greek Revival architecture. Before economic decline in the late 20th century, this building was a thriving 3-story shopping center. Don’t you wonder what goods were sold here when it first opened in the mid-1800s? I’m quite sure there was an array of merchandise. This building’s long and narrow structure extends between Westminster and Weybosset Streets, north of Orange Street in downtown Providence. There was plenty of room for all types of goods.
At that time, many who lived, worked and frequented the city walked up the Arcade’s wide granite steps. They enjoyed socializing in the open center atrium. The eateries and small stores must have been bustling with business and profit for some time.
It was closed and reopened for rehabilitation and renovation many times. The reopening of the Arcade in 2013 was a monumental, much longed for occasion and wonderful gift to the residents of Providence. Take a look inside. The Westminster Arcade is definitely a go-to place in Providence for an unforgettable shopping experience. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a souvenir from the nation’s oldest indoor shopping mall? It’s very tempting, I know.
The Arcade was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s. It was also declared a National Historic Landmark in the late 1970s.
Photo “the-arcade-providence” by 1992 since is licensed under Public Domain Mark 1.0
