Hearthside House

Call Directions Website Contact the museum

Hearthside House Hearthside House Museum, “The House That Love Built,” is an 1810 landmark on Great Road in Lincoln, RI.
(2)

Part of the Great Road Heritage Campus with the Moffett Mill, Hannaway Blacksmith Shop & Pullen’s Corner Schoolhouse. Located just to the north of Providence in Lincoln, Rhode Island, Hearthside is a unique stone mansion built in 1810 on pastoral Great Road, the first road through the wilderness between Providence and Mendon, Massachusetts, and one of the oldest thoroughfares in America. Hearthside is beautifully preserved and had been a private residence until 1996, when the Town of Lincoln purchased the property. In 2001, a group of citizens formed "Friends of Hearthside", a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to serve as stewards of the house and help preserve the property, while promoting its historical significance and accessibility to the public. Hearthside House Museum is open frequently for guided tours and special events, and by appointment for group tours. For a schedule of openings, please see our Events section. Hearthside has been noted as one of the finest examples of early 19th century federal-style houses in the state, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places. The unique 2 ½ story house is built of fieldstone, which was rare in dwellings at that time. Its design includes a gable roof with impressive ogee curves above circular attic windows. There are 10 fireplaces in the 10-room home, hence the name " Hearthside. " Hearthside has become known as "The House That Love Built" because of the romantic history behind the building of this beautiful house by Stephen Hopkins Smith.

Step back into the Victorian era with Hearthside’s annual fall exhibit, Gone But Not Forgotten: Victorian Mourning & Fun...
10/13/2026

Step back into the Victorian era with Hearthside’s annual fall exhibit, Gone But Not Forgotten: Victorian Mourning & Funeral Customs, opening this Sunday, October 18, and running through November 1 on select dates.

🖤Explore the fascinating traditions, rituals, and superstitions surrounding death and mourning in the late 19th century, using the story of former homeowner Simon E. Thornton, who died at Hearthside in 1873.

🖤During this fully guided, 90 minute tour, visitors will explore three floors filled with Victorian mourning attire, hair jewelry, post mortem photography, funerary artifacts, antique embalming tools, and more. Guides dressed in traditional mourning attire will bring these customs and the history of Hearthside to life.

🖤The experience concludes with a traditional Victorian style wake, complete with a coffin, memorial cards, and other period details.
While presented during the spooky season, this is not a Halloween event, but rather a fascinating journey into the history and traditions of the Victorian age!

For tickets & info visit: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/xwysxba/lp/202ea5e0-319d-40fe-a999-00b527ee08fe

10/09/2026
The colors are changing, the leaves are turning, and Fall is in the air at Hearthside! 🍁🍂
10/04/2026

The colors are changing, the leaves are turning, and Fall is in the air at Hearthside! 🍁🍂

It’s that time of year when Hearthside gets a little spooky! 🖤Gone But Not Forgotten: Victorian Mourning & Funeral Custo...
09/27/2026

It’s that time of year when Hearthside gets a little spooky! 🖤

Gone But Not Forgotten: Victorian Mourning & Funeral Customs.
Step inside a house in mourning, where black bunting, covered mirrors, and Victorian mourning customs tell the story of how families grieved the loss of a loved one.

Honoring former Hearthside homeowner Simon E. Thornton, who died here in 1873, this fascinating 90 minute tour takes you through three floors filled with mourning traditions and artifacts, including hair jewelry, fashions, coffins, embalming tools, and more. Guides dressed in mourning attire bring this unique and unforgettable exhibit to life!

Event Details:
Sunday, October 18th: 1-4pm
Saturday, October 24th: 4:30-7pm
Sunday, October 25th: 4:30-7pm
Sunday, November 1st: 1-4pm
General Admission Price: $20

For tickets & more information please visit: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/xwysxba/lp/202ea5e0-319d-40fe-a999-00b527ee08fe

Due to safety concerns surrounding this weekend’s Nor’easter, the Hearthside Jubilee has been tentatively rescheduled to...
09/26/2026

Due to safety concerns surrounding this weekend’s Nor’easter, the Hearthside Jubilee has been tentatively rescheduled to November 7th. Please check your email for additional information.

We thank you for your understanding and patience as we make this change. We’re looking forward to celebrating 25 incredible years with you, just a little later than planned!
❤️

For any questions and concerns email us: [email protected]

Another wonderful Great Road Day in the books! Thank you to everyone who came out, we loved spending the day with our co...
09/21/2026

Another wonderful Great Road Day in the books! Thank you to everyone who came out, we loved spending the day with our community! ❤️

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR JUBILEE SPONSORS! 🎉We’re so grateful to the incredible local businesses and community partners h...
09/20/2026

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR JUBILEE SPONSORS! 🎉

We’re so grateful to the incredible local businesses and community partners helping make our 25th Anniversary Jubilee possible! Your generosity and support mean so much to us. ❤️

A gracious shoutout to Endicott Dance Academy, Martel Plumbing & Heating, Navigant Credit Union, Quality Rental, Bally’s Lincoln, Town of Lincoln, Blais Insurance, and Oppenheimer/The Vanech Group!

We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate 25 years with our community! 🥂

Tickets: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/27q69ph


Address

677 Great Road
Lincoln, RI
02865

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hearthside House 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 Hearthside House:

Shortcuts

Share

Category