The Paine House Museum

Call Directions Website Contact the museum

The Paine House Museum Owned and operated by The Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society. A former Colonial home and Inn, restored and furnished in the period-style. Mr. Zilpha W.

Open seasonally from May through November for house tours and public events. The Paine house originally was built around 1691 by Samuel Bennett. Samuel ran a saw mill at this site and it is believed that the house began as a one room shelter. The mode for travel at that time was the Pawtuxet River. The property was passed to his son Samuel and in 1741 the first town meeting and election took place here. In 1742 the property was sold to Francis Brayton who added to the house and was granted a license to sell spiritous liquors and the house became a house of entertainment, an inn or a tavern. After his death in 1783 the property passed to his son Francis Brayton Jr. In 1785 Francis Brayton Jr. In 1785 Francis Brayton Jr was granted a license to sell spiritous liquors and the house became a house of entertainment, an inn or a tavern. In 1797 it was sold to a Charles Holden and was known as the Holden tavern. Holden heirs sold it to Thomas Whipple April 9, 1849. On April 25, 1866 the Whipple family sold the property to Phebe Paine and Mary Mathewson (Matteson). Mary sold her half to Phebe Paine Johnson. Through inheritance the property came to be in the Paine family for the next 87 years. Herbert F. Paine was the last of the family to live in the house and in 1946 after his death it passed to his half-sister Mrs. Foster. The keys to the house were turned over to the President of the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society on July 24, 1953 after being left by Mrs. Foster as a memorial to her mother Phebe Paine Johnson and sister Orvilla Paine. The house was added to the National Historic Register in 1974.

09/25/2026
Due to impending weather we have postponed our annual Dye Day at the Paine House.
09/24/2026

Due to impending weather we have postponed our annual Dye Day at the Paine House.

It's that time of the year again. Get your tickets to The Paine House Museum Annual Ghost Tour Cemetery Walk. Tickets ...
09/23/2026

It's that time of the year again. Get your tickets to The Paine House Museum Annual Ghost Tour Cemetery Walk. Tickets are limited so get yours early.
Go to: https://www.westernrihistory.org/events/ghost-tours/
and choose 3:30, 4:30 or 5:30 pm. Remember, the 5:30 group will definately be walking in the dark......OOOOoooooooooo

There are 2 tickets available for this Saturday and 2 for October 24. Don't miss out on these end-of-season events!
09/23/2026

There are 2 tickets available for this Saturday and 2 for October 24. Don't miss out on these end-of-season events!

Due to impending weather we must postpone our annual Dye Day at the Paine House Museum. Stay tuned for future schedulin...
09/23/2026

Due to impending weather we must postpone our annual Dye Day at the Paine House Museum. Stay tuned for future scheduling.......

Address

7 Station St
Coventry, RI
02816

Opening Hours

Friday 10am - 2pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+14012031457

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Paine House Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to The Paine House Museum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category