Snow settled gently across Providence, softening the brick facades and quieting the narrow streets. The city felt contemplative under a pale winter sky. I began near City Hall, its Romanesque arches rising above a dusting of white. Just a short walk away, the PVD Rink shimmered with skaters carving careful circles on the ice, laughter drifting into the cold air.

At Waterplace Park, the river moved slowly beneath the bridges. Though famous in warmer months for its fire-lit WaterFire displays, the park carried a different calm in winter. The muted landscape revealed the outline of Providence’s skyline against low clouds. From there, I made my way toward the grand Rhode Island State House, crowned by its marble dome. The dome is the fourth largest self-supporting marble dome in the world, an ambitious statement for America’s smallest state.

Climbing to Prospect Terrace, the panoramic view stretched across the city. Here stands a statue of Roger Williams, the colony’s founder, who established Providence in 1636 as a haven for religious freedom after being banished from Massachusetts Bay. His vision helped shape Rhode Island’s lasting reputation for independence of thought.

Descending into College Hill, snow blanketed the grand mansions lining Benefit Street. The preserved colonial architecture made it easy to imagine the 18th century. Nearby, Brown University, founded in 1764 as one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States, stood quietly under winter light. Students crossed the campus bundled against the cold, continuing traditions centuries old.