History contributes to a fuller future
ArtInRuins documents the architectural landscape to collect the oral, written, and photographic history of important places in Rhode Island. We are a safe space for storytelling, memory-sharing, and dreaming about the future of the built environment. More about A.I.R.
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461 properties and 12 Essays with 7,641 images. Browse more from our Categories and Tags.
Demolition Alerts
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Demolition Alert
Updated 7 October, 2026: Demolition of the rear portion and smokestack is complete while debris clean up continues
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Demolition Alert
Updated 4 October, 2026: It looks like partial or complete demolition is taking place
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Demolition Alert
Updated 24 February, 2023: Realtor Scott Aceto received approval to demolish a former Federal Hill tire shop with the hopes of building a boutique hotel with commercial space on the site
Recently added/updated Subscribe
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Added 12 October, 2026: A one hundred year old Georgian-style bank is converted to residential units, on a corner that was once a 1700s-era colonial tavern
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Updated 6 October, 2026: Redevelopment progress on this narrow building is underway with brick repointing and window preparation
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Added 3 October, 2026: A neglected narrow building stretching between two blocks is an evolving graffiti mural playground
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Added 24 August, 2026: A former nightclub and commercial building is converted to 6 residences with ground-floor retail
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Updated 20 August, 2026: Added a new photo of the still empty lot
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Added 15 June, 2026: A medium-size two-story mill building moves from a life as an industrial manufacturing company to an evangelical Baptist church
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The Art of Ruins — This week’s artful image
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Added 25 May, 2026: If it weren’t for high interest rates, this complex of more than eight structures could have been condominiums instead of mixed-use commercial space
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Added 12 May, 2026: A five-story late 19th-century commercial building with one of the few cast iron façades in the city
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Added 26 April, 2026: A large complex of several structures built over the course of about 50 years that remains industrial and commericial in its tenant mix
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Added 25 April, 2026: Three-generations of neighborhood short-order cooks made this tiny place a home for regulars over the course of 50 years
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Updated 22 April, 2026: Added a photo from the PPS Slide Collection which partially shows the building and it s McDonald’s branding
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Added 21 April, 2026: A more than 100-year old building has been home to one owner and one set of businesses for over 50 years.
#WhatAreTheyBuilding: Under Construction
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Updated 20 August, 2026: Added a photo of the finished project
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Updated 19 May, 2026: Added new images of the construction of phase 2
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Updated 14 April, 2026: Added two images of the finished construction
Also! The list of new building proposals we are keeping an eye on.
Recent Anecdotes Subscribe
2,040 anecdotes from people just like you.
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The tribal band of college students that they talk about who paraded through the tunnel in 1993, was not the first time a group of young people did such things. I participated in a similar march with a group of RISD students in the early 80’s. I was only in middle school at th...
Jason Simonelli on East Side Train Tunnel -
I was given the opportunity to work at Gorham by Dan Lemeska the VP of advertising. I worked in several parts of the country as a regional sales manager. I learned more about sales from my time at Gorham than anyone could imagine. I am now 80 years of age and have had a wonder...
Jay Allie on Gorham Manufacturing Company -
Father Gallagher was a pdf. Many years later a schoolmate confessed. Sad and not what Jesus would do. [**A.I.R.**: Indeed, we would not have posted this unless we could verify. Father Brian A. Gallagher was mentioned in a report from the Attorney General of RI listing clergy w...
Student on Holy Name School -
The Basil Rosa novel < href="https://www.amazon.com/-/he/Basil-Rosa-ebook/dp/B08CS32CP9" rel="nofollow">Groovemasters Night At The Met Cafe. Find it online. A good read.
Angela Flynn on Met Cafe, Friendship Street -
Lived next door at the St. Michael’s and All Angels Rectory from 1963 to 1980 as my Dad was the Rector. Went to the Primary school for all grades 1 to 6 from 1966 to 1972. How wonderful to be next door to my school and be able to run home for lunch back in the day when we actu...
Mark Besse on Union Primary School, Rumford -
I grew up in Barrington as a child and have fond memories of many trips to the Dari Bee for a cone of soft ice cream (coffee, of course) with my dad, who also worked for Narragansett Electric Company with Bill Hevey who ran the Dari Bee along with the Bee Hive, the gift shop t...
Sheila H Cerjanec on Dari Bee Ice Cream -
Quonset was the last duty station of my enlistment. (1968–1972) I was due for shore duty and put in for the west coast and got Quonset instead. All-n-all it was good duty. I was an ADJ-3 and worked in the little jet shop on Airport Rd., on T-58 engines used in the SH-3 helicop...
Ed Sovis on Quonset Point Naval Air Station -
Upstairs at 5 Steeple, above Al Forno, was Altered Images. A hair salon that was there through the 80’s
Robin Cardenas on Congdon & Carpenter Building and the George & Smith Owen Building
