Sullivan Dorr House, Providence
Calling this merely ambitious doesn鈥檛 do it justice. The house before you is a bold statement, designed and constructed by John Holden Greene鈥擯rovidence鈥檚 go-to architectural talent of the late Federal period. Greene, then just 32 and hitting his creative stride, built this for a Boston-born merchant active in the China Trade who had married into the wealthy Allen family. It was a commission that clearly satisfied his well-heeled patrons; several other Allen relatives would turn to Greene for their own homes.
Though Providence had started seeing large three-story houses about four decades earlier, none matched the scale and complexity of this one. Here, Greene conceived an integrated compound: the main house, a service ell set back from the front, and connected quarters for servants and a barn, all constructed simultaneously. This created what might be Providence鈥檚 earliest example of such an expansive layout. Greene鈥檚 adept siting鈥攁ligning the house perpendicular to the street and terracing up the hill鈥攚as a marked departure from earlier, more straightforward designs on the steep eastern side of the street. It was also significantly more expensive and land-intensive, showcasing a level of sophistication that set a new standard for local architecture.
Greene鈥檚 background as a builder鈥檚 apprentice, combined with his use of architectural pattern books, is evident in the house鈥檚 details. Gothic-inspired trim below the roofline and on the front porch, along with the stepped massing of the main block, are all hallmarks of his approach. This stepped design, while visually striking, doesn鈥檛 radically reconfigure the interior spaces as one might expect. Still, the house鈥檚 design remains a grand gesture, establishing an architectural identity for Providence.
Though Providence had started seeing large three-story houses about four decades earlier, none matched the scale and complexity of this one. Here, Greene conceived an integrated compound: the main house, a service ell set back from the front, and connected quarters for servants and a barn, all constructed simultaneously. This created what might be Providence鈥檚 earliest example of such an expansive layout. Greene鈥檚 adept siting鈥攁ligning the house perpendicular to the street and terracing up the hill鈥攚as a marked departure from earlier, more straightforward designs on the steep eastern side of the street. It was also significantly more expensive and land-intensive, showcasing a level of sophistication that set a new standard for local architecture.
Greene鈥檚 background as a builder鈥檚 apprentice, combined with his use of architectural pattern books, is evident in the house鈥檚 details. Gothic-inspired trim below the roofline and on the front porch, along with the stepped massing of the main block, are all hallmarks of his approach. This stepped design, while visually striking, doesn鈥檛 radically reconfigure the interior spaces as one might expect. Still, the house鈥檚 design remains a grand gesture, establishing an architectural identity for Providence.
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Sullivan Dorr House on Map
Sight Name: Sullivan Dorr House
Sight Location: Providence, USA (See walking tours in Providence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Providence, USA (See walking tours in Providence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Providence, Rhode Island
Create Your Own Walk in Providence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Providence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Providence Historical Buildings Tour
A beautiful city on the banks of the Providence River, Providence, Rhode Island, is nearly as old as the United States themselves 鈥� founded in 1636. As such, the city has many interesting historical and architectural landmarks worth checking out that tell the story of its past.
Among these, the Providence County Courthouse stands as a symbol of justice and governance. The Old Stone Bank,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Among these, the Providence County Courthouse stands as a symbol of justice and governance. The Old Stone Bank,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Brown University Walking Tour
Chief among the iconic landmarks contributing to the cultural atmosphere of Providence, Rhode Island, is Brown University, a prestigious Ivy League institution known for its liberal arts education and vibrant campus life. Founded in 1764, this is the seventh-oldest university in the United States, chartered before the American Revolution.
Brown's historic campus offers a classic New... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Brown's historic campus offers a classic New... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Providence Introduction Walking Tour
Along the banks of the Providence River sits one of New England鈥檚 oldest and most storied settlements. Founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a bold dissenter fleeing Massachusetts Bay Colony, it initially began as a sanctuary of religious freedom. Williams believed this haven was revealed through divine mercy鈥攈ence the name 鈥淧rovidence.鈥� Over time, the city grew from its humble beginnings... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles