Providence River - July 4, 2023

Crossing Providence Harbor

I have led a RICKA Flatwater trip on the Providence River on July 4th for the past few years. It seems appropriate since one of the first insurrections of the Revolutionary War – the Gaspee Affair – was carried out on the Providence River in 1772. Providence was also the first colony to declare independence on May 4, 1776, and Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution in 1790 after protections were added by the Bill of Rights.

The Providence River is formed at the convergence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers in downtown Providence. It flows south through Providence for a mile to its convergence with the Seekonk River at Bold Point/India Point. It then opens up into Providence Harbor and the Green Jacket Shoal before continuing south for 8-miles to the narrows between Conimicut Point in Warwick and Nayatt Point in Barrington where it becomes Narraganset Bay.

Through the Hurricane Barrier

It was raining as we put-in at Bold Point and paddled up the Seekonk River though the narrows between Bold Point in East Providence and India Point in Providence. India Point was the base of operations for John Brown’s merchant fleet in the second half of the 18th century. John Brown and his brothers would go on to found Brown University.

We paddled past the Brown University Boat House and up to the George Washington Bridge that carries Route 195 across the Seekonk River. In 1781, George Washington marched his army across the Seekonk River at this point at the start of a 14-week march from Newport to Yorktown with General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau.

Approaching downtown Providence

We then headed out across Providence Harbor towards the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier. The water was calm and the tide was high, but the rain was coming down heavy. Rounding Fox Point we passed the tugboats before paddling under the I-way Bridge and through the hurricane barrier into downtown Providence.

Providence was established in 1636 by Puritan theologian Roger Williams who was fleeing religious persecution in Boston. It became a major trading center in the 18th century, a manufacturing center in the 19th century, and a financial center in the 20th century. This history can be seen today in the warehouses, mills and office buildings that line the river. We paddled under the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge, a pedestrian bridge built on the piers of the old I-195 bridge, and into downtown Providence.

Skyline from the Cove

In the heart of Providence the river passes through Waterplace Park. Completed in 1994, Waterplace Park includes pedestrian bridges over the river that connect over a mile of cobblestone-paved walkways known as the Riverwalk. The park is home to the popular summertime Waterfire events.

We followed the path of Roger Willams up the Providence River to its headwaters at the confluence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers. We continued up the Woonasquatucket River into the Cove at Waterplace Park. The Woonasquatucket River arises near Primrose Pond and Stump Pond in Smithfield and flows generally southeast for 16-miles to Providence. We paddled under Providence Place and up past the Foundry mill complex before turning around.

Above Providence Place

Since the tide was high, we were also able to paddle up the Moshassuck River to the site where Roger Williams established the Providence colony at the Roger Williams National Memorial. The Moshassuck River arises near Lime Rock in Lincoln and flows generally south for 9-miles to Providence. The river became important during the Industrial Revolution, powering numerous mills (including the Moffett Mill on Great Road) and becoming the lower section of the Blackstone Canal.

By then, the rain has stopped, and we had a leisurely paddle back through the city and across the harbor. I brought my sea kayak so I could practice some of the strokes that I learned at the kayak training on Saturday. We arrived back at Bold Point at around noon - plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day. Too bad the rest of the day was filled with rain and thunderstorms.

In my sea kayak in front of Providence Innovation District Park

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